AP-3C Orion

The AP-3C Orion is an extremely versatile aircraft, capable of:

• land and maritime surveillance
• anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare
• naval fleet support, and
• search and rescue operations.

Based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, the AP-3C Orion ceased 10 years of operational service in the Middle East in 2012, after completing 2400 missions with more than 3500 personnel deployed throughout the period.

The AP-3C Orion aircraft has deployed on operations Resolute, Gateway, and Solania; providing support to Border Protection and Fisheries patrols within the South East Asia and Pacific regions.

Due to the AP-3C's excellent surveillance abilities, it has been called on to assist in maritime search and rescue operations, including survivor search and supply (air drop) missions. Notably, the AP-3C Orion was the primary Australian aircraft used in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370.

The AP-3C Orion is in the process of a graduated draw down to retirement, with the final aircraft planned for withdrawal in 2023. The AP-3C will be replaced by the P-8A Poseidon and MQ-4C Triton, which will perform the vital functions of long range maritime patrol.

About the Aircraft

The Orion aircraft first entered military service in 1968 as the P-3B model.

The P-3C variant was introduced in 1978, and underwent several significant upgrades before it became the current AP-3C Orion, which was introduced into service in 2002.

Far from the original P-3B model, the P-3C is now fitted with a variety of sensors, including:

• digital multi-mode radar
• electronic support measures
• electro-optics detectors (infra-red and visual)
• magnetic anomaly detectors
• friend or foe identification systems, and
• acoustic detectors.