Ahead of the upcoming arrival of the second P-3C Orion, Naval Aviation is still waiting for the go-ahead on the project to acquire weapons for its maritime patrol and surveillance aircraft. For now, the Argentine Navy has yet to receive the necessary equipment to fully exploit the anti-submarine and anti-surface capabilities of these four-engine aircraft.
The imminent arrival of a second P-3C Orion was announced by officials from the Ministry of Defense, and the incorporation is expected to take place in October, according to sources consulted. However, despite the good news of adding another aircraft, the green light for purchasing weapons for the ex-Norwegian Orions is still pending.
So far, the only P-3C Orion in service, 6-P-57, has conducted various missions, mainly as a long-range reconnaissance and surveillance platform. It is worth noting that the arrival of this first unit allowed the Naval Aviation Command to recover a vital capability for Argentina’s strategic interests, taking into account the vast Argentine Sea, its natural resources, and the various actors present in the region.
With the possible retirement of the S-2T Turbo Tracker from the Anti-Submarine Naval Air Squadron, the Argentine Navy not only faces the challenge of maintaining its already limited capabilities, but it would also be shortsighted to invest in the P-3C Orions without accompanying the process with a corresponding weapons acquisition plan.
Historically, the P-3 Orion has been the Western world’s premier anti-submarine aerial platform, a capability that over time has been complemented with anti-surface, ISR, and other mission capabilities. For this reason, the P-3C Orions acquired by the Argentine Navy have significant potential as a weapons system, and should not be viewed solely as patrol and surveillance aircraft for the 200-mile zone and Antarctic waters.
Comparisons may be tricky, but the incorporation of the P-3C/N Orion could, in part, replicate what was done with the Air Force’s F-16 program in terms of weapons acquisition requests. In the case of the four-engine aircraft serving in the Naval Reconnaissance Squadron, a wide range of options is available: from MK46, MK50, and MK54 torpedoes, to bombs and mines, to air-to-surface missiles and sonobuoys.
Acquiring weapons would not only allow the full exploitation of the new P-3C Orions’ capabilities, but also represent a significant recovery of capabilities. For example, obtaining anti-ship missiles would mark a milestone given the current situation of the SUE/SEM. Not to mention anti-submarine weapons—both highly relevant for the South Atlantic environment.
For now, the only P-3C Orion of the Argentine Navy must deal with more immediate, practical matters, such as challenges to ensure its availability, and the need to confirm the arrival of dozens of containers with materials to operate and maintain the nascent fleet of four-engine maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
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