The
Lockheed EP-3 is the signals reconnaissance version of the
P-3 OrionThe Lockheed P-3 Orion is a maritime patrol aircraft used by numerous navies and air forces around the world, primarily for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, anti-surface warfare and anti-submarine warfare.-Development:...
, operated by the
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
.
Development
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 are known by the acronym ARIES, or "Airborne Reconnaissance Integrated Electronic System".
From 1960 to 1991, the squadrons that flew the EP-3E also flew the Douglas
EA-3B SkywarriorThe Douglas A-3 Skywarrior was a strategic bomber built for the United States Navy and among the longest serving carrier-based jet aircraft. It entered service in the mid-1950s and was retired in 1991. For many years after its introduction, it was also the heaviest aircraft ever flown from an...
. There are 11 EP-3Es in the Navy's inventory, the last of which was delivered in 1997.
Notable incidents
In April 2001 an aerial collision between a
United States NavyThe United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
EP-3E ARIES II, a signals reconnaissance version of the P-3C, and a
People's Liberation Army NavyThe People's Liberation Army Navy is the naval branch of the People's Liberation Army , the military of the People's Republic of China. Until the early 1990s, the navy performed a subordinate role to the PLA Land Forces...
J-8IIM fighterThe Shenyang J-8 is a high-speed, high-altitude Chinese-built single-seat interceptor fighter aircraft.-J-8:...
resulted in an
international incidentAn international incident is a seemingly relatively small or limited action or clash that results in a wider dispute between two or more nation-states...
between the United States and
ChinaThe People's Republic of China , commonly known as China, is the largest country in East Asia and the most populous in the world with over 1.3 billion people, approximately one-fifth of the world's population...
. The J-8IIM crashed and its pilot was killed. The EP-3 came close to becoming uncontrollable, at one point sustaining a near inverted roll, but was able to make an
emergency landingAn emergency landing is an unplanned landing made by an aircraft in response to a crisis which either interferes with the operation of the aircraft or involves sudden medical emergencies necessitating diversion to the nearest airport....
on
HainanHainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, all but three percent of its land mass is on Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
. 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 back to United States for reassembly and repair.
Fictional incidents
This incident was referenced in the television series
JAGJAG is an American adventure/legal drama television show that was produced by Belisarius Productions, in association with Paramount Network Television and, for the first season only, NBC Productions...
, specifically in the episode Dog Robber during season 7. During this episode, a similar incident occurred in which a US Navy EP-3 had a mid-air collision with a Chinese
MIGMig may refer to:*Mikoyan or "MiG", formerly "Mikoyan-Gurevich", a Russian military aircraft manufacturer*Marfin Investment Group*Minnesota IMPLAN Group, inc*Gas metal arc welding, also called "MIG welding"...
. Subsequently, the crew of the US EP-3 had to make an emergency landing at the Fuzhou Airbase in China. As in the original incident, both the crew and plane were detained. A US delegation led by Admiral Thomas Boone flew to the Fuzhou Airbase to negotiate for release of the aircraft and it's crew. The general in charge of the base agreed to release the crew, but the aircraft would remain in Chinese custody, to be studied and disassembled: a gross breach of US military security.
Upon the delegation's return to the
USS Thomas JeffersonUSS Thomas Jefferson may refer to: was an attack transport in service from 1941 to 1949, and scrapped in 1974 was an Ethan Allen-class ballistic missile submarine commissioned in 1963. She remained on active service until 1985.See also...
, a navy lieutenant had strong reservations against allowing the Chinese military to obtain US military secrets, and thus disobeyed orders, flew into Chinese airspace and destroyed the EP-3 before the Chinese had a chance to study it in detail. This, however, led to the Lieutenant being court-martialed for his actions, found guilty for disobeying a superior officer, and dismissed from the navy.
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.
Variants
- EP-3A: Seven modified for electronic reconnaissance testing.
- EP-3B: Two P-3As converted into ELINT aircraft during the Vietnam War.
- EP-3: ELINT aircraft for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defence Force
The , or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II. It has a large fleet with significant blue-water operating capabilities. The force is based...
.
- EP-3E ARIES: 10 P-3As and 2 EP-3Bs converted into ELINT aircraft.
- EP-3E ARIES II: 12 P-3Cs converted into ELINT aircraft.
- EP-3J: Two modified from P-3As for FEWSG
The Fleet Electronic Warfare Support Groups ' mission as part of the US Navy was to provide electronic warfare simulation in a controlled environment during fleet exercises to help operators deal with EW threats, VAQ-33 and VAQ-34 were the primary electronic aggressor squadrons to provide these...
use as a simulated adversary EW platform in exercises; later transferred to the former Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 33 (VAQ-33), then transferred to the former Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron 11 (VQ-11).
Operators
- Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force
The , or JMSDF, is the maritime branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, tasked with the naval defense of Japan. It was formed following the dissolution of the Imperial Japanese Navy after World War II. It has a large fleet with significant blue-water operating capabilities. The force is based...
- 5 EP-3
- United States Navy
The United States Navy is the sea branch of the U.S. Armed Forces. It is one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. As of 31 December 2008, the U.S. Navy had about 331,682 personnel on active duty and 124,000 in the Navy Reserve. It operates 283 ships in active service and more than...
- VQ-1 based at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island is a naval air station located in two sections around Oak Harbor, Washington, USA. It was commissioned as an active U.S. Navy installation on 21 September 1942....
- VQ-2 based at NAS Whidbey Island, was until recently based at Naval Station Rota, Spain
Naval Station Rota is a Spanish naval base commanded by a Spanish Vice Admiral. Located in Rota, Spain, and near the Spanish town of El Puerto de Santa María, NavSta Rota is the largest American military community in Spain and houses US Navy Sailors, Marines, and their families...
.
Specifications (P-3C Orion)
See also
External links