United States Legacy Lockheed Martin
P-3 Orion
Long-range, land-based maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare turboprop, the mainstay Cold War ASW platform, largely replaced by the P-8 Poseidon.
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-04
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Operator data not public
Status: legacy.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Max speed Maximum level speed. For aircraft this is at optimal altitude; for ground vehicles, top road speed. Higher means faster response and better kinematic performance. | 761 km/h |
|---|---|
| Cruise speed Sustained economical speed. Determines transit time to station. | 607 km/h |
| Range Maximum distance: ferry range for aircraft, operational range for vehicles, maximum engagement distance for missiles. Higher means more standoff or persistence. | 8,963 km |
| Combat radius Distance an aircraft can fly, complete its mission and return without refueling. Roughly a third of ferry range. | 2,491 km |
| Service ceiling Maximum operating altitude. Higher gives energy advantage and sensor horizon. | 8,626 m |
| Rate of climb How fast the aircraft gains altitude. Higher means better energy recovery in combat. | 10 m/s |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 35.61 m |
|---|---|
| Wingspan Wingtip-to-wingtip span. | 30.18 m |
| Height Overall height. Lower profile is harder to spot and hit for ground vehicles. | 10.27 m |
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 27,892 kg |
| Combat weight Fully loaded weight. Lighter eases transport and bridging limits; heavier often means more armor. | 61,235 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 11 |
Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engine Powerplant model and type. | Allison T56-A-14 turboprop |
|---|---|
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 4 |
| Engine power Engine output power. Higher moves more weight faster. | 4,910 hp |
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | turboprop |
Specifications compiled from public Lockheed Martin and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-04.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
AVIC (Aviation Industry Corporation of China) KJ-2000 (Mainring) Head-to-head comparisons
P-3 Orion vs
Frequently asked questions
What is the top speed of the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion? +
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion has a maximum speed of 761 km/h.
What is the range of the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion? +
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion has a maximum range of 8,963 km.
How much does the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion weigh? +
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion has a combat weight of 61,235 kg.
How many crew does the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion require? +
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion requires a crew of 11.
What engine does the Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion use? +
The Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion is powered by the Allison T56-A-14 turboprop.
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