According to Defense Industry Daily
Mar 09, 2016 00:20 UTC
The New Zealand Defence Force has chosen Boeing as the preferred provider of an update of submarine detection sensors on the air force’s P-3K2 Orion surveillance aircraft. The upgrade, yet to be approved by the government, would replace ISR equipment 50 years old and cost in the tens of millions of dollars. Plans for future defence procurement will be announced next month in a government Defense Whitepaper including plans for the Orion fleet.
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RNZAF P-3k2 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft
Cockpit RNZAF P-3k2 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft @rnzaf.proboards.com
Work station RNZAF P-3k2 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft @s1109.photobucket.com
| Aircraft | P-3K2 Orion |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed (USA) |
| Powered plant | Four Allison T56-A 14 engines, (4,600 shaft horsepower). |
| Length | 36m (117ft) |
| Wingspan | 30.4m (99ft) |
| Height | 10.3m (34ft) |
| Basic weight | 30,450kgs (67,000lbs) |
| Gross weight | 54,950kgs (127,500lbs) |
| Max fuel | 27300kgs (60,000lbs) |
| Cruising speed | 630km/h (340kts) |
| Ferry range | approx 7,100km (3,850NM) |
| Typical performance | Radius of action of 1,850km (1,000NM) with 4 hours on station. Endurance of 15 hrs with two engines shut down to conserve fuel. |
| Note: All performance figures for still air, ISA conditions with standard fuel reserves. | |
| Crew | Normally 12 comprising of two pilots, two flight engineers, two navigators (including tactical co-ordinator), one air electronics officer and four air electronics operators, one air ordnanceman. Can carry a maximum of 21 personnel including crew. |
| Fleet History | The RNZAF took delivery of five P-3B Orions in 1966 (NZ4201 – NZ4205). In 1985 an ex-RAAF P-3B was purchased (NZ4206). All six Orions were upgraded (avionics and radio systems) under Project RIGEL in the early 1980s. Following the upgrade the designation P-3K was applied to these aircraft. The aircraft have undergone the upgrade programme and are now designated as P-3K2. |
Source @airforce.mil.nz
Image @aviationwa.org.au
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