Lockheed S-3 Viking

Retirement


The final carrier based S-3B Squadron, VS-22 was decommissioned at [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] on 29 January 2009.

Sea Control Wing Atlantic was decommissioned the following day on 30 January 2009, concurrent with the U.S. Navy retiring the last S-3B Viking from front-line Fleet service.

In June 2010 the first of three aircraft to patrol the [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]'s range areas off of California was reactivated and delivered.

The jet aircraft's higher speed, 10 hour endurance, modern radar, and a [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] targeting pod allow it to quickly confirm the test range is clear of wayward ships before tests commence.

These S-3B are flown by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THIRTY ([Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien]) based out of [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien], CA.

Also, the NASA [Vous devez être inscrit et connecté pour voir ce lien] acquired four S-3B's in 2005. Since 2009, one of these aircraft (USN BuNo 160607) has also carried the civil registration N601NA and is used for various tests.

A U.S. Navy Fleet Readiness Center Southeast artisans check the wing fold operation on Lockheed S-3B Viking (BuNo 160147) from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-30 Bloodhounds at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida (USA) on 14 April 2010.

The S-3Bs are used for surveillance on the Sea Test Range at the Pacific Missile Test Center Point Mugu, California (USA).

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Lockheed S-3B

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