P-3C Submarine Slayer: The Navy’s Ultimate Weapon – Part 1

Since its inception in 1995, the Navy has used the P-3C, an all-weather maritime surveillance aircraft. It is principally in charge of the maritime border, which stretches from the Northern Limit Line (NLL) in the East and West Seas to the South Sea and is constantly monitored day and night.

Known as the “submarine killer,” this aircraft is the most widely used for maritime surveillance in the world. Although it primarily performs anti-submarine missions, it is also capable of wide-area surveillance of operational waters, anti-surface ship warfare, early warning, and information collection. Similar types include France’s Dassault’s “Atlantic,” Russia’s Ilyushin’s “IL-38,” and “Tu-142 Bear.”

When the South Korean Navy introduced two P-3Cs in April 1995, it became the 16th country to possess one. It operates the P-3CK, an upgraded version of the P-3B. The P-3C is mainly specialized in anti-submarine operations using sonobuoys. This is why it is referred to as the Navy’s core air power in the face of North Korea, which possesses numerous submarines and submersibles.

With these capabilities, it can detect submarines using frequency variation, sonobuoys, and magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) devices and then attack submarines since they are equipped with torpedoes. The maximum speed is 473 miles per hour, and the operational radius reaches 2383 miles.

The four-engine turboprop anti-submarine surveillance aircraft of the United States is also called Orion. Lockheed of the United States developed it. Since being deployed to the US Navy in the late 1960s, it has continuously improved its electronic equipment and weapons and has operated worldwide in the early 21st century. The US Navy is known to have more than 200 units as anti-submarine surveillance aircraft (ASW) and maritime surveillance aircraft (ASUW).

Part 2…
Part 3…