Lockheed S-3 Viking

The Lockheed S-3 Viking was a twin-engine, carrier-based jet aircraft developed and manufactured by Lockheed Corporation for the United States Navy. Introduced in the 1970s and retired in 2009, it was primarily designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) but evolved to fulfill additional roles, including electronic intelligence gathering, aerial refueling, and surface warfare, throughout its service life.

The S-3 Viking was powered by two General Electric TF34 turbofan engines, achieving a top speed of about 450 knots (518 mph) and an operational range of 2,300 nautical miles. It typically operated with a crew of four: a pilot, copilot/tactical coordinator, tactical operator, and sensor operator. The aircraft's armament included torpedoes, depth charges, AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, and various bombs and rockets for anti-surface warfare. For anti-submarine missions, it featured an advanced acoustic processor, a sonobuoy launcher, a magnetic anomaly detector boom, and inverse synthetic aperture radar.

The aircraft's versatility allowed it to transition from its original ASW mission to become a valuable multi-mission platform, handling surface surveillance, electronic countermeasures, over-the-horizon targeting, cargo transport, and aerial refueling. During the later years of its service, the S-3B variant was reconfigured to focus more on surface warfare and aerial refueling as the submarine threat diminished after the Cold War.

During carrier operations, the S-3 Viking was renowned for having the lowest accident rate of any tactical jet in naval aviation history. The Viking earned the nickname "Hoover" for the distinctive vacuum-like sound produced by its engines.