Just quietly, P-3Cs excel

An Australian pilot inspects his F/A-18 before a combat flight over Iraq.

P-3C Orion crews – dubbed “quiet achievers” by Chief of Air Force Air Marshal Angus Houston – have been using the comprehensive sensor suite of their aircraft to provide information on Iraqi operations to coalition ground, air and naval forces.

The Orions, from No. 92 Wing at RAAF Base Edinburgh, were originally deployed on Operation Slipper in January, but have been making a significant contribution to Operation Falconer.

The crews employ the P-3C’s updated electro-optical sensor and the Electronic Support Measures system to survey, locate and monitor Iraqi operations adjacent to the Iraqi border.

They also continue to provide direct support to US aircraft carriers conducting strikes into Iraq.

Since being called into action, the Orions have flown dozens of sorties, most around 10 hours in duration, and with pre-flight briefings and checks and post-flight reporting, the crews are working up to 17 hours a day.

AIRMSHL Houston said he was “very pleased” with the work of the Orions and referred to their near-perfect mission success rate.

A military public affairs spokesman said, “They’ve been very busy, they’ve been flying every day and the information they provide is absolutely essential to our effort. And their availability – that’s their reliability, mission completion and the accuracy of the information – has been quite fantastic.

“They have been ensuring that the coalition commanders get a good picture of what is happening in the main waterways leading up to Basra.”

The Orion crews are supported by more than 100 operations, maintenance and combat support personnel who work around the clock to ensure the missions are well planned, prepared and supported.

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