S-3B of VS-21 "Fighting Redtails" launches a Harpoon; photo courtesy of LT Tim McGarvey, VS-29.

Lockheed S-3B Viking

The S-3B Viking is an extremely versatile antisubmarine aircraft, whose primary mission, appropriately enough, is to locate and prosecute hostile submarines. It carries a crew of four, including the pilot, copilot, tactical coordinator (TACCO), and sensor operator (SENSO). Given the nature of its mission, it is appropriate that the S-3 has a tremendous fuel capacity and efficient engines, which enable it to stay on station for as long as it takes to find the lurking subsurface threat. The sound of its engines are often compared to that of a vacuum cleaner, hence its nickname, the "Hoover."

For the antisubmarine mission, the S-3 is equipped with acoustic sonobuoys and a tail-mounted Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) system, along with an impressive collection of antisubmarine ordnance. However, the S-3 also has impressive surveillance capability, in the form of a sophisticated ESM (electronic surveillance measures) suite and an inverse-synthetic aperture radar. Both of these tools allow the S-3 to collect electronic intelligence invaluable to the battle group. In addition, S-3B "War Hoovers" have also been cleared to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon, giving the Viking an anti-surface capability to match its sensors. Finally, because of their high endurance, S-3s are used as tankers, carrying "buddy packs" that enable them to transfer jet fuel in-flight.

The future of the S-3 includes upgrades to its avionics suite, modifications to its airframe, the addition of GPS capability, and conceivably clearance for more types of ordnance. A modified version of the Viking, the ES-3A "Shadow", has entered service as a dedicated signals intelligence aircraft. Vikings currently operate in one squadron of six aircraft and are expected to gain two more aircraft in tomorrow's airwing.

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