Lockheed EP-3

also EP-3A/B Orion EP-3E ARIES / ARIES II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_EP-3

The Lockheed EP-3 is the signals reconnaissance version of the P-3 Orion,
operated by the United States Navy.

A total of 12 P-3C aircraft were converted to replace older versions of the
aircraft, which had been converted in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The
aircraft is known by the acronym ARIES, or "Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated
Electronic System".

The squadrons that flew the EP-3E also flew the Lockheed EC-121 Warning Star
from 1962 to 1974 and the Douglas EA-3B Skywarrior from 1960 to 1991. There are
11 EP-3Es in the Navy's inventory, the last of which was delivered in 1997.

Hainan Island incident

Main article: Hainan Island incident

In April 2001 an aerial collision between a United States Navy EP-3E ARIES II, a
signals reconnaissance version and a People's Liberation Army Navy J-8IIM
fighter resulted in an international incident between the United States and
China. The J-8IIM crashed and its pilot was killed. The EP-3 came close to
becoming uncontrollable, at one point sustaining a nearly inverted roll, but was
able to make an emergency landing on Hainan. The crew and plane were
subsequently detained by Chinese authorities, accused of "killing the Chinese
pilot".

After several days, the crew was repatriated separately to the United States
while the aircraft remained in China, reported taken apart for research on
American technology. Although the crew attempted to destroy as much classified
material, hardware, and software on the aircraft prior to the emergency landing,
there is little doubt that the EP-3 was exploited by Chinese intelligence
services. An American team was later permitted to enter Hainan in order to
dismantle the aircraft, which was subsequently airlifted on board a Russia's
Polet Airlines Antonov An-124 Ruslan back to the United States for reassembly
and repair.

Role
Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Lockheed Corporation

Status
Active

Primary users
United States Navy
Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force

Unit cost

$36 million


Developed from
P-3 Orion

EP-X

Boeing has started working on an unscheduled replacement aircraft, the EP-X,
based on their 737.

On 16 August 2009, The Navy issued an "EP-X Analysis of Alternatives" that
called for "information useful for the execution of the Electronic Patrol-X
(EP-X) program which will recapitalize the EP-3E aircraft to provide tactical,
theater, and national level Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, and
Targeting (ISR&T) support to Carrier Strike Groups and to Theater, Combatant,
and National Commanders."

On 23 September 2009, leaked Navy budget documents for FY2011 revealed that the
EP-X program would be delayed rather than started in that year.

On 1 February 2010, the President unveiled his proposed budget for 2010. This
budget called for, among other things, canceling the EP-X program.

Replacement

After the cancellation of the EP-X Program, the US Navy has planned to replace
the EP-3E Aries II with the MQ-4C Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS)
unmanned aircraft and the MQ-8B Fire Scout unmanned helicopter. All P-3 Orion
aircraft assigned to special projects squadrons (VPU) and all EP-3E Aries II
aircraft are expected to fully retire by 2020.

Specifications (EP-3)

General characteristics
Crew: 22+
Length: 105 ft 11 in (32.28 m)
Wingspan: 99 ft 6 in (30.36 m)
Height: 33 ft 7 in (10.27 m)
Wing area: 1300 ft2 (120.8 m2)
Airfoil: NACA 0014-1.10 (Root) – NACA 0012-1.10 (Tip)
Empty weight: 77,200 lb (35,000 kg)
Useful load: 57,800 lb (26,400 kg)
Loaded weight: 135,000 lb (61,400 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 142,000 lb (64,400 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Allison T56-A-14 turboprop, 4,600 shp (3,450 kW) each
Propellers: Four-bladed Hamilton Standard propeller, 1 per engine Propeller
diameter: 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m)


Performance
Maximum speed: 780 km/h (420 knots, 485 mph)
Cruise speed: 650 km/h (350 knots, 405 mph)
Range: 3,000 nm (3452 mi / 5,556 km)
Service ceiling: 30,000 feet (9,150 m)



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