P-3 Orion Research Group

Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion Articles

This section contains a selection of articles about the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion. Click on the titles to open the articles in PDF.

The German P-3C Program: Where did things go wrong?
by Marco P.J. Borst

The German navy will retire its P-3C CUP Orion fleet in 2025. Ten years earlier than planned. An opinion article about the problems that led to this decision.

Second life on brandnew wings
by Marco P.J. Borst

Fifty years ago, on 13 August 1962, the Lockheed P3V-1 Orion was taken in use for operational service by US Navy Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8). While the US Navy is preparing for the operational introduction of the Orion’s successor, other P-3 operators are investing in life extension programs for their existing or new P-3 fleets. They are to continue the success story of the Mighty Orion.

VPU Orions
Military Aviation Review @MAR - January 2011, by Jaap Dubbeldam

“By far being the most secretive aircraft in Navy inventory”. That is how someone on the internet named the Orions operated by the two VPU squadrons. And he may just as well be right. Most aircraft enthusiast will have heard of their existence, but the true nature of these special P-3 Orions remains a secret. It is even possible you may have seen one of these aircraft without realizing it. This article is an attempt to shed some light on the subject. It is, however, not complete, as it is confined to the aircraft and the squadrons that operate them and not about the mission.

BMUP+ and LSRS: another USN Special Project part one / part two
Military Aviation Review @MAR - April and May 201, by Jaap Dubbeldam

Top Secret units operating P-3 Orions have been around since the 1960s and probably will remain as such for the next twenty years. History has proven however that, after several years of operations even initially sneaky US Navy squadrons like VQ-1/VQ-2 operating the EP-3E Aries II Elint Orions and VPU-1/ VPU-2 operating special project P-3 Orions, have become publicly known. However there
is another special project unit, which operates at least three anonymous P-3 Orions out of Dallas Love Field, Tx since at least 1978, for which no official US Navy designation was known.

Ilyushin IL-38 May- the Russian Orion
Lockheed's Airborne Log - Summer 1996, by Marco P.J. Borst

For years we believed the Ilyushin IL-38 May was an aircraft with the ability to conduct missions simiar to the P-3 Orion. Well, the capabilities of this Ilyushin were an illusion!

Changing Atlantics for Orions
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - 2006/2007, by Marco P.J. Borst

Germany's New Sub-Hunter
Air International - April 2007, by Marco P.J. Borst

Maritime Patrol in the JMC
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - April 2001, by Marco P.J. Borst

Norwegian Orions
Air International - January 1998, by Marco P.J. Borst

Orions of Spain
Lockheed's Airborne Log magazine - Spring 1994, by Marco P.J. Borst

Orions of The Netherlands
Lockheed's Airborne Log magazine - Fall 1994, by Marco P.J. Borst

Patrolling over the Med
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - September 1998, by Marco P.J. Borst

RNLN MPA Group Farewell
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - 2005, by Marco P.J. Borst

RNLN MARPAT Group Preparing for the Future
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - April 2001, by Marco P.J. Borst

The Watching Wolves of Portugal
VP International's Maritime Patrol Aviation Magazine - June 2000, by Marco P.J. Borst