Maritime patrol aircraft

British Aerospace Nimrod MR2

Maritime patrol aircraft ( English Maritime Patrol Aircraft , MPA, also MRPA: Maritime Reconnaissance and Patrol Aircraft ) are aircraft with long range and long flight time. They are equipped with various sensors such as radar and sonoboys and can be armed with guided missiles and torpedoes . Their main tasks are maritime surveillance and submarine hunting .

Many types of maritime patrols have been modified from commercial aircraft for this task , such as B. the Lockheed P-3 Orion , which emerged from the Lockheed L-188 Electra . Specifically for this task u. a. the Lockheed P-2 Neptune , the Breguet Atlantic or the Beriev Be-12 Chaika developed.

description

Most maritime patrols are propeller- powered aircraft. The Boeing P-8 Poseidon, developed on the basis of the Boeing 737 , uses jet engines. In the Second World War and the 1950s, flying boats or large float planes were also used as maritime patrols. Until the beginning of the Cold War , military airships were also used as sea scouts.

Aircraft carriers use aircraft with similar tasks; however, their endurance and payload are limited. Examples are the Grumman S-2 Tracker , Breguet Alizé or Fairey Gannet .

Maritime patrol aircraft can have various surface and underwater sensors. In addition to a high-performance radar for searching for surface targets and monitoring the sea area, electronic support measures ( EloUM ( English ) Electronic Support Measures (ESM)), daylight and infrared cameras, lookouts are among the surface sensors . Detachable active and passive sonoboys and Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) are used to locate submarines . Due to their standing time in the operational area and their operational radius, some maritime patrol planes are specially equipped for electronic reconnaissance (ELINT).

Maritime patrols can be used independently or in conjunction with warships , helicopters or other aircraft. They can observe targets from a safe distance and provide the attacking units with the data they need to deploy their weapons. Many maritime patrols are armed and can fight ships and submarines with their own weapons. This can include guided anti-ship missiles and anti- submarine torpedoes that are carried under the wings or in a weapons bay.