Data Quality88%
MASS(Military Archive Scoring System)
ⓘ Regardless of era, the same scoring system applies to all units in the maritime patrol & asw aircraft category.
01 / Overview
P-3A Orion
Category
Country
Prime contractor
Production
1961–1990
Quantity
757
Operators
Conflicts
💰 PERFORMANCE / PRICE ASSESSMENT Methodology ↗
MARITIME PATROL & ASW AIRCRAFT · EARLY COLD WAR
2
PERFORMANCE/PRICE
88
UNIT COST (2025 USD)
—
ⓘ Performance/Price and MASS score are computed across all units in the maritime patrol & asw aircraft category, regardless of era.
02 / Specs & Design
◎General5MOD.5
- Base AirframeLockheed L-188 Electra
- Mission TypeMaritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare
- Service Entry Year1962
- Flight Crew11
- Mission Crew10
◈Powerplant2MOD.2
- Engine Typeturboprop
- Number of Engines4
▣Performance4MOD.4
- Cruise Speed540 km/h
- Service Ceiling10,600 m
- Range6,300 km
- Endurance12
◇Mission Systems8MOD.8
- AESA RadarNo
- Rotodome / AEW AntennaNo
- Operator Consoles6
- SIGINT / ELINT SuiteYes
- Magnetic Anomaly DetectorYes
- Sonobuoy CapabilityYes
- Tactical DatalinkNo
- Self-Protection SuiteNo
◆Armament (ASW/Strike)3MOD.3
- TorpedoesYes
- Anti-Ship MissilesYes
- Weapons Payload4,000 kg
▤Dimensions3MOD.3
- Length29.9 m
- Wingspan34.4 m
- Max Takeoff Weight45,000 kg
⬢Production1MOD.1
- Total Built757
▲Service History3MOD.3
- Production Start1961
- Production End1990
- Operational StatusActive
03 / History
SERVICE LIFESPANStill in Service
- 1945First deployment: Cold War
- 1961Production started
- 1980Sale: Canada (18 units)
- 1990Production ended
65
years in service
29
years in production
757
units produced
13
countries operating
ⓘ The producing country still actively operates it. 2 countries retired it.
04 / Conflicts
P-3A ORION · CONFLICTS SERVED IN100% win
Total Conflicts
1
Victories
1
Ongoing
0
Losses
0
ⓘ Shown only from conflicts recorded in our database.
05 / Operators
Operator Inventory12country · 200units
200active
P-3A OrionSALES2records
ⓘ "Present Value" is an estimated amount adjusted for inflation.
06 / MASS Score
MARITIME PATROL & ASW AIRCRAFT RANKING Maritime Patrol & ASW Aircraft · Early Cold War
MASS RANKINGSMASS ↗
8MARITIME PATROL & ASW AIRCRAFT2EARLY COLD WAR · MARITIME PATROL & ASW AIRCRAFT269UNITED STATES · ALL WEAPONS3PERFORMANCE/PRICE · MARITIME PATROL & ASW AIRCRAFT
ⓘ Rankings are within theMaritime Patrol & ASW Aircraftcategory.
📖 TERMS ON THIS PAGE4terms
Anti-ship missiles are guided missiles designed to engage and destroy naval vessels. They are typically used by aircraft, ships, or submarines to attack enemy ships.
A Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) is an instrument used to measure and detect variations in the Earth's magnetic field, primarily for locating submarines or other large metallic objects.
A sonobuoy is a expendable, self‑contained buoy equipped with acoustic or other sensors, deployed from aircraft to detect and track submarines or surface vessels.
These terms are listed automatically because they appear on this page.full encyclopedia →
📚 Sources