Lockheed signed a contract with the US Navy in February 1959 to develop a successor to the P-2 and began developing the P-3 series by modifying its turboprop passenger aircraft, the L-188 Electra.
The first model of the P-3 series, the P-3A, made its maiden flight in November 1959. The improved P-3C was deployed to the US Navy in August 1969. The P-3C, a long-range anti-submarine surveillance aircraft operated from ground bases, can operate various equipment by modifying a large passenger aircraft to provide ample onboard space.
Various pieces of equipment that contributed to the reputation of the submerged killer, such as the Frequency Variation (DIFAR) Sonobuoy and the Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) device, were installed to search for submarines. Each is equipped with four Allison T56-A-14 turboprop engines of 4,900 horsepower, allowing it to fly for 10 to 13 hours at a cruising speed of 205 miles per hour.
![원조 잠수한 킬러 ‘P-3C 해상초계기’…대수상함전·조기경보·정보수집까지 ‘바다의 파수꾼’[이현호 기자의 밀리터리!톡]](https://contents-cdn.viewus.co.kr/image/2024/02/CP-2023-0094/image-4418f191-f29c-476a-ac71-3760abc85d64.jpeg)
The maximum takeoff weight reaches 139,760 pounds. It can accommodate a maximum crew of 21 people and a minimum of 5 people. The armament includes Harpoon missiles and SLAM, Maverick air-to-ground missiles, MK-46 or MK-50 torpedoes, rockets, mines, depth charges, etc., and can be loaded up to 19,841 pounds.
The Japanese Navy, Canadian Army, Australian Air Force, and Dutch Navy possess this model. The Korean Navy also imported eight units, starting with two on April 25, 1995. Eight more were purchased from 2007 to 2009. The P-3C maritime surveillance aircraft operated by our navy is an aircraft that primarily discovers and attacks enemy submarines while flying over the sea.
Submarines that secretly move under the sea and attack enemy ships have long been the most feared in naval warfare. In particular, German submarines were nearly unbeatable during World War II.
In response, the United States developed maritime surveillance aircraft such as the PV-1 Ventura and the PV-2 Harpoon during World War II to destroy German submarines. At that time, submarines had to surface to replenish air and observe the sea situation, so maritime surveillance aircraft took this opportunity to launch concentrated bombing attacks.
With advanced technology, submarine technology also advanced, and the functions of maritime surveillance aircraft became more diverse and powerful. The P-3C, for example, is equipped with powerful detection means to detect North Korea’s Polaris-4 submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) before it is launched.
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