Lockheed S-3 Viking
Lockheed · United States · first flew 1972 · bomber
The Lockheed S-3 Viking is the US Navy's compact carrier-based anti-submarine warfare jet, characterised by a T-tail, high wing and four-crew cockpit packed into a short but wide fuselage.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, swept |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × turbofan, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.26 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- T-tail with the tailplane mounted high on the fin — unusual on a carrier aircraft
- Short, compact jet with a high swept wing folding for carrier stowage and two podded turbofans
- Four-crew cockpit with a broad, nearly flat glazed nose housing the forward-looking radar
The T-tail is the quickest identifier — few carrier jets mount the tailplane atop the fin. Combined with the high swept wing, two podded turbofans, and the wide flat-nosed four-crew cockpit, it is unlike anything else in carrier service.
Specifications
- The Lockheed S-3 Viking has a length of 16.26 m (53 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 20.93 m (69 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 828 km/h (514 mph).
- Typical crew: 4.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1972 to replace the piston S-2 Tracker, the Viking brought jet performance and advanced sensors to the carrier ASW role. Its systems included a magnetic anomaly detector boom, sonobuoys, radar and an infrared sensor, all operated by two naval flight officers behind the two pilots.
Variants
Variants included the ES-3A Shadow for signals intelligence and the KS-3A for aerial refuelling trials. Later in its career the submarine threat receded and most Vikings transitioned to the tanker and surface-surveillance role as the S-3B.
Where you'll see it
The S-3 served US Navy carrier air wings from the early 1970s until final retirement in 2016. It was never operated by British forces and is rarely seen outside North American collections.
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