Lockheed / Vought S-3 Viking Carrier-borne ASW / Tanker Aircraft - History, Specs and Pictures

Authored By Staff Writer | Last Updated: 9/18/2010

The S-3 series was the first all-computerized anti-submarine warfare platform for the USN.

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The S-3 Viking series of carrier-borne aircraft was a joint production effort from the Lockheed and Vought aircraft firms. Selected from no fewer than five proposals from various other companies an including the two aforementioned firms, the S-3 was designed to a United States Navy requirement for an anti-submarine aircraft platform built around the then-powerful Univac digital computer. The system was a direct result of the ever elusive new generation of Soviet submarines constantly testing the waters in an around the United States. The Viking would go on to become the Navy's most advanced and all-computerized aircraft at the time.

By 1972, the YS-3A was developed into eight service evaluation models. Vought's contribution to the overall aircraft was in the production of the wing elements, tail assembly, engine nacelles and the landing gears system. The resulting aircraft was a highly-identifiable high-shoulder mounted wing design with the two large General Electric turbofans hung underneath. Crew accommodations amounted to a total of four and included a pilot, copilot, sensor systems operator and the tactical coordinator. A single large rudder was fixed atop the tail assembly. An internal weapons bay provided storage for up to four torpedoes, bombs and mines.

Upgrades to the base S-3A system eventually produced the standardized S-3B, fitted with updated acoustic processing, newer sonorbouy system, improved radar and the ability to mount, target and fire the powerful AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile system on two new external hardpoints to compliment the internally-held stores. Most all existing "A" models were now modernized to the "B" standard. B-models were field by 1984.

With the need for such a dedicated anti-submarine system diminished on the new modern battlefield, the S-3 system has be relegated to "buddy" tanking services. As such, fewer and fewer S-3 systems are kept aboard carrier groups these days, though the system itself is intended to be fielded up through 2015. An electronic warfare conversion model exists as the ES-3A "Shadow" Elint as well. Text ©2003-2013 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • No Reproduction Permitted
MilitaryFactory.com does NOT sell equipment/weaponry. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance or general operation. Please consult manufacturers for such information. Our disclaimer. Email corrections / Comments to MilitaryFactory at Gmail dot com.

Image of the Lockheed / Vought S-3 Viking

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Specifications for the
Lockheed / Vought S-3 Viking
Carrier-borne ASW / Tanker Aircraft

Country of Origin: United States
Manufacturer: Lockheed / Vought - USA
Initial Year of Service: 1974
Production: 280

Focus Model: Lockheed / Vought S-3A Viking
Crew: 4

Length: 53.35ft (16.26m)
Width: 68.67ft (20.93m)
Height: 22.74ft (6.93m)
Weight (Empty): 26,649lbs (12,088kg)
Weight (MTOW): 52,541lbs (23,832kg)

Powerplant: 2 x General Electric TF-34-GE-2 turbofan engines delivering 9,275lbs of thrust each.

Maximum Speed: 506mph (814kmh; 440kts)
Maximum Range: 2,302miles (3,705km)
Service Ceiling: 35,007ft (10,670m; 6.6miles)
Rate-of-Climb: 4,200 feet per minute (1,280m/min)

Hardpoints: 2 (S-3B only)
Armament Suite:
Internal Weapons Bay:

4 x Torpedoes
4 x Mk 36 Destructors
4 x Mk 82 Bombs
4 x Mk 53 Mines

Underwing Hardpoints (for S-3B model only):
2 x Torpedoes
2 x AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles
2 x AGM-65 Maverick air-to-ground missiles
2 x Rocket Pods

Variants:
YS-3A - Service Evaluation Models of which eight were produced.

S-3A - Initial Production Variant of which 187 were produced.

S-3B - Improved S-3A model set as "standard" by 1984; ability to field and fire the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile; most all existing S-3A models were coverted to B level.

US-3A - USN model operated as Carrier Onboard Delivery (COD) sans anti-submarine warfare equipment; four utilized in this fashion.

KS-3A - Single dedicated tanker variant (evaluation model only).

ES-3A "Shadow" Elint - Electronic Warfare Variant.

Operators:
United States

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