Navy considering bringing the Viking out of retirement, as a milk truck and gas wagon
Between 1971-1978 Lockheed built 188 S-3 Viking aircraft for the US Navy. Unsung, the humble Viking was used for ASW, ASuW, over the horizon targeting, electronic warfare, carrier on board delivery (COD), and aerial refueling.
However, since it was primarily built to bust the hundreds of Soviet subs lurking around the world if the Cold War ever went hot, after the Russkis threw in the towel in 1991 the Viking’s days were numbered. Within a few years, most had their ASW suite removed, converting them to surface warfare only– and increasing use as tankers after the KA-6D was retired. By 2009, although still viable, they were retired.
Aerial view of a US Navy (USN) S-3 Viking aircraft, from the Sea Control Squadron 37 (VS-37), Sawbucks, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) North Island, California (CA).—Man that paint scheme.
Some 91 low mileage S-3s sit in desert storage in Arizona and the Navy is now looking to bring back a good many of these, converted to replace the C-2 Greyhound in the COD role. Capacity would reportedly be 10,000 pounds of cargo or 28 passengers, with an advanced cargo handling system and loading ramp design taken from the C-130J Super Hercules. The new/re-manufactured plane, now considered a C-3 would have a new stretched fuselage, refurbished engines, a probe for mid-air refueling, and it would be able to carry buddy pods that would convert it to an aerial tanker. Back in the old days the Carrier Air Wings carried 4 KA-6Ds and would have one or two C-2s in and out, so you could see as many as six C-3’s coming back to each to pick up the slack.
I think you should do a post in support of the EA-18G Growler program that is excluded from Obama’s proposed budget. There is link from Boeing for people to petition Congress to fund the program. See http://fa-18.com/growler/