Beyond the Orion adventure

The Royal New Zealand Air Force’s six venerable Lockheed P-3K2 Orions are approaching their twilight years after more than half a century of service. Jim Winchester looks at the long process to replace them. RNZAF Maritime Patrol P-3K2 NZ4203 at Whenuapai. The most visible change from the P-3K to the K2 is the replacement of the Boeing Infrared Detection System (IRDS) turret under the nose with the Wescam MX-20 electro-optical/infrared system. Jim Winchester The P-3K2 upgrade included a BAE Systems