Spain decommissioned the Lockheed P-3 Orion and temporarily lost maritime patrol capabilities

The Spanish Air Force has lost the ability to conduct maritime patrols. But this is a temporary situation.

Here's What We Know

The Spanish Air Force retired the last Lockheed P-3 Orion coastal patrol aircraft on Dec. 17, 2022. However, the service has not yet received a replacement for the CASA C-295, developed by Airbus.

The last Orion belonged to the 22nd Squadron of the 11th Wing of the Spanish Air Force, which was stationed at Morón de la Frontera (Morón de la Frontera) Air Base in Seville. There were a total of seven aircraft in various modifications. Initially, Spain wanted to modernize all the aircraft, but due to budget cuts, there was only enough money for four.

The P-3 Orion, which had been decommissioned the day before, carried out its last mission on the first day of 2022. On the whole, the task of the plane was the struggle against piracy in the region of the Horn of Africa, which it successfully accomplished during 14 years.

The Lockheed Martin aircraft will be replaced by the Airbus C-295 MPA, but it will not happen immediately. The European concern has read all the requirements of the Spanish Air Force and is ready to begin production.

The Spanish Ministry of Defense has included in the 2023 budget a program for the purchase of four Airbus planes - €170 million ($180 million). The total value of the contract will be €580 million ($614.5 million).

Source: Bulgarian Military
Image: Wikipedia, Wikipedia