Possible P-3 AEW battleship configuration

[Roberto139]

Howdy folks, my first topic here after gawking at the marvellous imageineering works y'all are pushing out.
I'd like to convert Hasegawa's P-3 to an AEW similar to the USC&B Patrol aircraft, however this one with a considerable sting capability.
I have seen P-3s with donkey many as six Harpoons, but would like to add more weapon pylons to it for air to air self defense and perhaps rework the rear sensor/buoys bay to carry additional air to surface weapons.
Any P-3 expert here to suggest CG issues if rear bay used for AGM-84s or AGM-142s?

[McColm]

You can use the Grumman E-2 Hawkeye or the RVHP Erieye radar. The Cammett BAe Nimrod AEW.3 conversion set doesn't fit, I know because I have tried it. The rear radome fits but the front one loses a lot of the cockpit area. It fits the Revell Dassault Atlantic ALT1 as well as the B-36 Peacemaker and C-130.

[Roberto139]

I already have an E-2 radar dish and struts from a Fujimi kit, that's pretty much what the current set is for the P-3 AEW.
I was more curious about opening up a second weapons bay where the current sonobuoys chutes are.

[McColm]

Or you could use the pannier from the Airfix BAe Nimrod to create on big weapons bay.

[Old Wombat]

I already have an E-2 radar dish and struts from a Fujimi kit, that's pretty much what the current set is for the P-3 AEW.
I was more curious about opening up a second weapons bay where the current sonobuoys chutes are.

Additional weapons for a surveillance platform is probably not the best idea, but swapping out the sonobuoy chutes for a big suite of chaff & flare launchers would be of benefit to a high-value target like an AEW platform.

Maybe put extra fuel in the existing weapons bays, giving you a better Time On Station, & a couple of self-defence AMRAAM's under the wings (in addition to the extra chaff & flares) ... maybe four.

[McColm]

An in-flight refuelling probe from a C-130 might improve the endurance.
Try looking at the P-3A the ones that the C.I.A. flew.

[Mossie]

The P-7 might be a good basis, it was an enlarged P-3 project that was cancelled.  It had a fuselage stretch and a widened wing centre section.  Lots of hardpoints.





P-3 hardpoints for comparison:

[Roberto139]

I like the P-7 idea, perhaps using the new E-2 scimitar blade propellers.
I understand how in reality you would not want to risk a high value asset as a surface strike platform, I was thinking about something to the likes of a multiple use platform even adding AGM-88 capability.
I like the idea  of an IFR probe, because 12 hours in the air may not be enough.

[Old Wombat]

Just remember, if you're trying to keep it remotely plausible, that the more weapons it's carrying the heavier the aircraft & the higher the fuel consumption.

Add any significant number of those weapons outside the fuselage & you also increase drag, meaning an even higher fuel consumption.

Having the big radar disc on top is going to slaughter any pretense at fuel economy & your endurance is going to take some significant damage; I think you'd be lucky to get 9 hours, maybe 10 at a stretch.

IFR will fix the endurance issue, at a significant cost increase, but it won't fix the issue of aircrew fatigue, especially for the pilots & RO's.

[McColm]

I have flown on a P-3C II  Orion and on the Canadian CP-140 Aurora  when I was in Gibraltar for a NATO exercise.

[sandiego89]

Old Wombat beat me to it, your P-3 with all that gear will be very draggy.

I would stick to the existing weapons bay and a few wing stations.

I do think heavy weapons in the area of the aft sonobouy chutes would adversely effect center of gravity.

[McColm]

Or try the Lockheed P-3A Airseeker firefighter panner layout.