US Navy, the S-3 Viking. Why is this gone?

[bladesinger79]

I understand that this was an old platform to conduct ASW carrier operations. The last one was retired from naval service in 2014.

So, the real question is this: What replaced it? The Osprey?!?

According to the database and what research I conducted, the navy failed to build a carrier launch jet or propeller aircraft to replace the Viking. All that's left is land-based Poseidons and Orions.

What do I use to fill the hangars with? Or, do I just say the heck with it and commission the Vikings back into service for an upcoming 2024 scenario project?

[JFS737]

Hi,
So, the cold war ended and it turned out adversary subs were magically not an issue anymore so the USN did away with this superfluous capability. Besides, in littoral waters the P-3 would be able to cover US CVBG's.
Now that China and to a lesser degree Russia are thinking more blue water SSN's... it would be nice to have organic ASW, but it's likely not in the budget.
So, we are stuck with P-8's, H-60's and DDG's. As long as the P-8's have the fuel and air cover, they may be able to provide protection to the fleet. On the upside, it allows more deck space for F18's and F35's, maybe an additional E-2D or MQ-25, or MH-60R for plussed up ASW.

[DWReese]

I ask that question quite a bit myself. In addition to being much faster than a helo when responding to an ASW search, it could also be armed with missiles for ASuW as well. It was like a mini-bomber. I still think that it was the most versatile plane that existed on board a carrier. It was very useful.

[Kushan04]

I understand that this was an old platform to conduct ASW carrier operations. The last one was retired from naval service in 2014.

So, the real question is this: What replaced it? The Osprey?!?

According to the database and what research I conducted, the navy failed to build a carrier launch jet or propeller aircraft to replace the Viking. All that's left is land-based Poseidons and Orions.

What do I use to fill the hangars with? Or, do I just say the heck with it and commission the Vikings back into service for an upcoming 2024 scenario project?

While the final one retired in 2016, the last ship board squadron decommissioned in 2009. After that the remaining airframes where flying support for missiles ranges, NASA, etc. In the post-Cold War environment it was seen as not needed. Towards the end of it's service the ASW equipment had been removed and it's role shifted to ASuW/AAR. Post 9/11 when the USAF had tankers everywhere, the NAVY didn't think it needed the ASW capability, and not like the navy needed another aircraft to bomb terrorist, it was cut.

Nothing directly replaced it. The navy shifted it's missions to other aircraft, relying on P-3/P-8s for area ASW, Super Hornets for refueling other hornets, etc.

The Common Support Aircraft was proposed to replace the S-3, E-2, and C-2 but it got cut in the post Cold-war budget environment. Even if it had materialized it probably would have been cut post 9/11.

Recommissioning the Vikings has been proposed many times since they retired, especially for use in the Pacific. A lot (most?) of them are sitting out in the desert at The Boneyard in Arizona. Hypothetical recommissioned units are in the DB. Both straight from the boneyard with new weapons, and an upgraded variant that turns it into a mini P-8.

As for your scenario, it depends on what you want. If you want an accurate 2024 scenario then no Vikings, if you want to make something hypothetical why not included a recommissioned units. It depends on what you want to do and what works for your scenario.

[sfbaytf]

IMO-most of the resources is being spent on unmanned ASW platforms-think drones. No proof, but I have zero doubt a undersea type of unmanned system that is both capable of underwater and transformation into a flying type of system is in development if not already in testing/operation.

There is talk of replacing the F-35s with unmanned systems, don't think it will or should happen, but its out there.

[thewood1]

I asked my old college friend, who was both a naval and Marine aviator, about the S-3 years ago. He said the S-3's airframe and engines were near end-of-life. The engines were out of production. There was a good chance they would have to cannibalize shore-based S-3s for critical parts. It would have cost an "immense" amount to refurbish all of them to support the multiple missions that took on. The downtime for S-3s in maintenance was increasing rapidly. He also said that there was, at one time, a plan to develop an SV-22 as a ASW platform and that was also a factor.

He also pointed out that having Hornets as tankers was a good bridge to eventually using drones. Plus using hornets significantly improved maintenance, spares management, training, and gave CAGs a lot more strike flexibility.

That was just his opinion.

[bladesinger79]

Looks like I will be forced to use Ospreys on the carriers, while placing LOTS of Poseidons and Orions on land bases for accuracy. I appreciate everyone's input.