The Royal Thai Navy ordered three ex USN P-3A Orions in 1989. Deliveries were delayed for a couple of years due to financial problems and governmental changes in Thailand. In September/October 1993 the Orions destined for Thailand arrived at the NADEP at NAS Jacksonville, where the aircraft were modified to meet the Royal Thai Navy's requirements. The VP-3T is a VIP bird with strengthened floor, passenger seats and a limited so-called SENTAC station which combines some elements of the Sensor 3 and TACCO stations, enabling the aircraft to perform light surveillance duties. The Orions were purchased as replacements for the Grumman S-2A/G Trackers and are operated by 102 squadron (initially with 101 squadron) alongside the Fokker F-27 Maritime Enforcers. The first Thai P-3 crews were trained by VP-30 at NAS Jacksonville and by Logistic Services International on location in Thailand. Next to the three operational Orions Thailand received two ex USN P-3A's which are used as spare part birds at U-Tapao AB.
Royal Thai Navy P-3T upgrade
7 jun 2005 A Royal Thai Navy P-3T arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in April for a radar upgrade that will benefit Thailand as well as the United States in the global war on terror. NAVAIR's Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) Program Office (PMA-290) is responsible for the upgrade under the auspices of a foreign military sales (FMS) case. A combined NAVAIR/Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) team at NAS Patuxent River will replace the antiquated APS-80 radar system with a Raytheon commercial off the shelf (COTS) SeaVue radar. This radar will provide enhanced capabilities such as Inverse Synthetic Aperture, as well as a replacement for the functions that were provided by the obsolete APS-80 radar.The NAWCAD team will take about eight to 10 weeks to install, integrate and test the COTS SeaVue radar. Ground and flight-testing will be performed at NAS Patuxent River, including a functional check flight, and four five-hour test flights. The upgraded P-3T will be used to train an RTN crew consisting of two pilots, a flight engineer, two naval flight officers, one in-flight technician, and one radar operator prior to ferrying the RTN P-3T back to U-Tapao, Thailand.
A three-Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM), the first major maintenance conducted on this aircraft since delivery in 1995, was performed at a Lockheed Martin Aircraft Center (LMAC) in Greenville, S.C. prior to arrival at NAS Patuxent River. A NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville ferry crew flew the aircraft from Greenville to Patuxent River. The RTN plans to upgrade all three operational aircraft. Based on the successful execution of the first upgrade effort, the RTN is currently budgeting for the other two aircraft. The second upgrade could begin as early as October 2005. The RTN is also considering additional avionics upgrades in the future.
7 jun 2005 A Royal Thai Navy P-3T arrived at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in April for a radar upgrade that will benefit Thailand as well as the United States in the global war on terror. NAVAIR's Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) Program Office (PMA-290) is responsible for the upgrade under the auspices of a foreign military sales (FMS) case. A combined NAVAIR/Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) team at NAS Patuxent River will replace the antiquated APS-80 radar system with a Raytheon commercial off the shelf (COTS) SeaVue radar. This radar will provide enhanced capabilities such as Inverse Synthetic Aperture, as well as a replacement for the functions that were provided by the obsolete APS-80 radar.The NAWCAD team will take about eight to 10 weeks to install, integrate and test the COTS SeaVue radar. Ground and flight-testing will be performed at NAS Patuxent River, including a functional check flight, and four five-hour test flights. The upgraded P-3T will be used to train an RTN crew consisting of two pilots, a flight engineer, two naval flight officers, one in-flight technician, and one radar operator prior to ferrying the RTN P-3T back to U-Tapao, Thailand.
A three-Phased Depot Maintenance (PDM), the first major maintenance conducted on this aircraft since delivery in 1995, was performed at a Lockheed Martin Aircraft Center (LMAC) in Greenville, S.C. prior to arrival at NAS Patuxent River. A NAVAIR Depot Jacksonville ferry crew flew the aircraft from Greenville to Patuxent River. The RTN plans to upgrade all three operational aircraft. Based on the successful execution of the first upgrade effort, the RTN is currently budgeting for the other two aircraft. The second upgrade could begin as early as October 2005. The RTN is also considering additional avionics upgrades in the future.
P-3T
Two Thai Orions, originally P-3A TAC/NAV MOD's were modified by NADep at NAS Jax with new navigation and communication systems, avionics and radar displays. The aircraft were wired for IRDS and Harpoon missile firing systems.
Two Thai Orions, originally P-3A TAC/NAV MOD's were modified by NADep at NAS Jax with new navigation and communication systems, avionics and radar displays. The aircraft were wired for IRDS and Harpoon missile firing systems.
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