Argentina Commissions Second P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft from Norway

Argentina has commissioned its second Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft acquired from Norway.

The incorporation ceremony took place at the Aeroparque Military Air Station (AMA) in Buenos Aires, led by Defense Minister Luis Petri. The aircraft will be used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance, and surveillance missions across Argentina’s sovereign waters.

Petri said that the current administration resumed payments for the aircraft contract signed in 2023 after a previous default. He expressed gratitude to Norway’s ambassador Halvor Sætre for maintaining the agreement despite earlier payment delays. He also thanked the United States ambassador, Peter Lamelas, for facilitating radar card installations on the P-3 Orion aircraft.

The minister linked the aircraft’s arrival to a broader modernization plan supported by President Javier Milei, which includes the upcoming arrival of Striker and F-16 fighter jets to strengthen Argentina’s air defense.

The P-3 Orion aircraft—three P-3Cs and one P-3N for logistics—are part of a National Public Investment Project aimed at reinforcing maritime domain awareness. Each aircraft undergoes a Service Life Extension Program (ASLEP), providing an additional 17,000 flight hours or more than 15 years of operational life.

Equipped with advanced sensors, infrared systems, automatic ship identification technology, and real-time data transmission capability, the P-3 Orion can patrol up to 1,500 nautical miles, covering Argentina’s coastline and routes to Antarctica.