The Portuguese Air Force's P-3C maritime patrol aircraft is the workhorse of the country's search and rescue and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. AIR International speaks with Esq601 for exclusive insight into its operations with the aircraft and vision for the future.
With the arrival of the first Portuguese Air Force (FAP) P-3Ps to Montijo Air Force Base in Lisbon on August 7, 1988, Esquadra 601 (Esq601) ‘Lobos’ was launched, inheriting the maritime surveillance mission of Portugal. A total of six previous aircraft of the Royal Australian Air force (RAAF) were procured and the squadron’s activity was mainly devoted to the qualification and training of crews, which was a responsibility of the P-3P manufacturer, Lockheed, up until 1990.
