The Argentine Navy has taken a significant step toward recovering its maritime surveillance and patrol capabilities with the arrival of its second P-3C Orion aircraft, registration 6-P-58 . The aircraft arrived at the Comandante Espora Naval Air Base , near Bahía Blanca, following a ferry flight from the United States, with a stopover in Lima, Peru. This aircraft is part of a batch of four units acquired from Norway.

The main objective of these additions is to replace the retired P-3Bs and recover strategic capabilities for the control of national maritime space . The P-3C Orion , developed by Lockheed Martin, is a robust platform for patrolling, anti-submarine warfare, ship detection, and search and rescue missions. Its equipment includes radars, infrared sensors, magnetic detection systems, and acoustic processors. Its four Allison T-56-A-14 turboprop engines give it an autonomy of up to 12 hours and an operational range of 2,780 kilometers, vital for the extensive areas of interest .

The P-3C Orion, registration 6-P-58, during its technical stopover in Lima.

The aircraft will be permanently based at the Almirante Zar Naval Air Base in Trelew, Chubut, home to the Naval Exploration Squadron . From there, its deployment will be crucial for the effective control of maritime space up to mile marker 200, safeguarding sovereignty and natural resources—specifically, fishing vessels—and enabling the intensification of operations against illegal fishing in the Argentine Sea.

Strategic acquisition for naval re-equipment

The purchase of these aircraft was arranged during the administration of former President Alberto Fernández . Negotiations with Norway and the subsequent authorization from the United States for the transfer of the aircraft, which are of American origin, were finalized after several bureaucratic and negotiation processes. The agreement for the acquisition of the four aircraft was officially signed in October 2023. The transaction, which strengthens the reequipment of the Naval Aviation, was finalized for an approximate amount of $67 million.

Before its transfer, the 6-P-58 aircraft was inspected and refurbished by the MHD-Rockland company in Florida , the same firm that will prepare the remaining two aircraft, whose delivery is scheduled for 2026. The arrival of this second P-3C Orion is a fundamental pillar in the state's re-equipment strategy for the surveillance and defense of the maritime coast, the continental shelf and the sectors close to Antarctica, ensuring a greater presence in areas of strategic interest .