CP-140 Aurora

infobox Aircraft
name = CP-140 Aurora CP-140A Arcturus
type = Maritime patrol aircraft
manufacturer = Lockheed



caption = CP-140 Aurora
introduced = 1980
retired =
number built = 24
status = Active
primary user = Canadian Forces
more users =
unit cost = $24,905,000 [ [http://www.rcaf.com/aircraft/patrol/aurora/index.php?name=aurora CP-140 Aurora] ]
developed from = P-3 Orion
variants with their own articles =

The Lockheed CP-140 Aurora is a Canadian Forces Air Command maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). The aircraft is based on the Lockheed P-3 Orion airframe, but mounts the electronics suite of the S-3 Viking. In Greek mythology, Aurora is the Greek goddess who restored Orion's eyesight, and also the Aurora Borealis are the "northern lights" that are prominent over northern Canada and the Arctic Ocean.

The CP-140A Arcturus is a related variant used primarily for pilot training and coastal surface patrol missions.

Design and development

The CP-140 Aurora is virtually identical externally to the Lockheed P-3C Orion predecessor, but internally is quite different, using computer systems that were first installed in yet another Lockheed anti-submarine warfare aircraft, the carrier-based S-3A Viking. The aircraft's sensors are primarily intended for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) work but are also capable of maritime surveillance, counter-drug and search-and-rescue missions. Current Operations have the CP-140 as Canada's only strategic Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft, conducting Long range missions; Over-Land, Over-Water and the Littoral areas. These missions are flown in support of CANCOM, CEFCOM, CANSOFCOM, the RCMP, and several other federal government departments.

Operational history

CP-140 Aurora

The aircraft were acquired in the early 1980s to replace the CP-107 Argus and to further support Canada's anti-submarine warfare mission obligations under NATO for the northwest Atlantic sector. However, since the end of the Cold War, they had been used primarily in coastal surveillance and sovereignty patrols by providing an all-weather mission surveillance platform. Increasingly as the CP-140 moves into the 21st century it is employed for Domestic and International surveillance by CANCOM for security, counter-terrorism and smuggling, as well as to monitor foreign fishing fleets off Canada's coasts. CP-140s have also been deployed on operations such as "Operation Assistance" and "Operation Apollo".

CP-140A Arcturus

In 1991, Lockheed shut down its production lines in Burbank, California for the P-3 Orion, which shares the same airframe with the CP-140. Three surplus airframes on hand were purchased by Air Command but delivered without the anti-submarine fit. These three aircraft were designated the CP-140A Arcturus and are used primarily for pilot training and coastal surface patrol missions.

Lacking the expensive, heavy and sensitive anti-submarine warfare as well as the anti-surface warfare fittings of the CP-140 Aurora, the Arcturus is much more fuel efficient and is used for crew training duties (such as "touch-and-go" landing practice), general maritime surface reconnaissance (detecting drug operations, smuggling of illegal immigrants, fisheries protection patrols, pollution monitoring, etc), search-and-rescue assistance and Arctic sovereignty patrols. The Arcturus does possess a superior AN/APS-507 surface search radar, incorporating modern functions such as track-while-scan that the Aurora's AN/APS-506 radar lacks.Fact|date=March 2007

All three aircraft are based at 14 Wing, one of which is currently being used for training with the school on base CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia. The CP-140As were scheduled to be deactivated in 2004, but are still very much in active duty as of 2008.

Aurora Incremental Modernization Project

The Aurora Incremental Modernization Project, initiated in 1998 to upgrade electronics of the Aurora fleet was halted by the government on 20 September 2007 to evaluate whether the aging fleet should continue to be upgraded or replaced by more modern aircraft. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/09/20/aurora-upgrade.html CBC.ca:Ottawa halts $1.6B upgrade of patrol aircraft] ] On 18 December 2007 the DND rescinded this work suspension and will continue with modernization, which includes upgrading computer, navigation, communication and radar systems as well as making structural improvements to ten of eighteen aircraft. The intent of the modernization project is to "keep the aircraft safe and operationally viable until 2020.” [ [http://news.gc.ca/web/view/en/index.jsp?articleid=369439&categoryid=1&category=News+Releases& Government of Canada News Centre: The Future of the CP-140 Aurora] ] [ [http://naval.review.cfps.dal.ca/forum/view.php?topic=38 Canadian Naval Review: CP-140 Aurora Modernization.] ] .

Operators

;CAN
* Canadian Forces Air Command (AIRCOM)
** 404 Maritime Patrol and Training Squadron, CFB Greenwood, Nova Scotia
** 405 Maritime Patrol Squadron, CFB Greenwood
*** 10 × CP-140 "Aurora" and 3 × CP-140A "Arcturus"
** 407 Maritime Patrol Squadron, CFB Comox, British Columbia
*** 5 × CP-140 "Aurora"

pecifications (CP-140)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?= plane
jet or prop?= prop
ref=
crew= Mission minimum 8, typically 12 to 15
capacity= 20
length main= 35.61 m
length alt= 116 ft 10 in
span main= 30.38 m
span alt= 99 ft 8 in
height main= 10.49 m
height alt= 34 ft 5 in
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=
empty weight alt=
loaded weight main= 27,892 kg
loaded weight alt= 61,362 lb
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=

engine (prop)= Allison T-56-A-14-LFE
type of prop= turboprop engines
number of props=4
power main=
power alt= 4600
power original=

max speed main= 750 km/h
max speed alt= 405 kt, 462 mph
cruise speed main=
cruise speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 9,300 km
range alt= 5,000 nm, 5,737 mi
ceiling main= 10,700 m
ceiling alt= 35,100 ft
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=
* Mk 46 Mod V torpedoes, signal chargers, smoke markers, illumination flares
* air-to-surface missiles or conventional bombs can be fitted after a retrofit.
avionics=
* Sonobuoys, Radar, Electro-Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) suite, Magnetic anomaly detector (MAD), Electronic Support Measures (ESM), fixed 70 mm camera, hand-held digital camera, gyro-stabilized binoculars.

ee also

aircontent
related =
* Lockheed L-188 Electra
* P-3 Orion

similar aircraft=
* P-8 Poseidon
* Avro Shackleton
* Breguet Atlantique
* Hawker-Siddeley Nimrod

lists=
* List of active Canadian military aircraft
* List of Lockheed aircraft

see also=

References

* Winchester, Jim, ed. "Lockheed CP-140 Aurora." "Modern Military Aircraft (Aviation Factfile)". Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange Books plc, 2004. ISBN 1-84013-640-5.

External links

* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/cp140/default_e.asp Canada's Air Force: CP-140 Aurora]
* [http://www.airforce.forces.gc.ca/site/equip/cp140a/default_e.asp Canada's Air Force: CP-140A Arcturus]