The first P-3C Orion of the Argentine Navy performed its first patrol flight and exercised with a U.S. submarine.

The first P-3C Orion aircraft, recently incorporated, is already performing patrol flights over the Argentine maritime littoral.

Ads

According to Gaceta Marinera (Argentine Navy publication), on Tuesday afternoon, September 24, the first patrol flight of the recently incorporated P-3C Orion, registration number 6-P-57, belonging to the Air and Naval Exploration Squadron of the Air and Naval Force No. 3, over the Argentine maritime coastline took place.

El recientemente incorporado P-3C Orion de la #ArmadaArgentina, llevó a cabo su primer vuelo de vigilancia y control sobre nuestro litoral marítimo. Realizó ejercicios con el submarino USS “Hampton” que regresaba de Chile tras participar del UNITAS LXV?https://t.co/Qiat2HyHgm pic.twitter.com/ReEbNlxuu2

— Armada Argentina (@Armada_Arg) September 25, 2024

During its initial maritime surveillance and control missions, and as a demonstration of sovereign presence, the aircraft overflew a concentration of fishing vessels at the 201 nautical mile limit. Additionally, it conducted exercises with the USS «Hampton» (SSN-767), a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered attack submarine returning from Valparaíso, Chile, after participating in the multinational naval operation UNITAS LXV.

The training with the US Navy submarine took place 320 nautical miles east of Puerto Madryn and consisted of surface detection and identification, appendage identification, radar, FLIR, and MAD detection, and the establishment of a series of operational communications.

Ads

This opportunity exercise, called PASSEX, proved to be an excellent chance to test and operate the aircraft’s equipment, as well as to put into practice the current operating procedures and increase the training and experience of the Argentine Navy’s personnel.