Defense Media Network

P-3 Orion Marks 50th Anniversary

Pulling worldwide duty five decades on

As the P-3 Orion continues to serve in its 50th year it has seen its role but not its importance change. Originally designed to be an anti-submarine and maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S. Navy, its missions have expanded to include anti-piracy, shipping lane protection, homeland security, drug interdiction, fire fighting, hurricane hunting and more. One of our readers, Walt Heimart, referred to the P-3 airframe as a Swiss Army Knife, and that comparison is apt. The P-3 has conducted these missions not only for the U.S. Navy, but also for countries including Japan, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Greece, The Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, Thailand and Iran. Even though its replacement, the P-8 Poseidon, is on the horizon, the Orion is likely to continue to serve whatever role it’s assigned with distinction for some years to come.

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Steven Hoarn is the Editor/Photo Editor for Defense Media Network. He is a graduate of...