"The S-3 was a unique program. We went from first contract to first contact over a submarine in just three years."
- Lockheed Executive Vice President Tom Burbage, who flew the Viking as a Navy test pilot and later ran the S-3 program for the company

The Navy began what became the S-3 Viking program in 1964 to replace the piston-powered S-2 Tracker. Known originally as VSX - for "carrier-based antisubmarine warfare aircraft-X" - a formal request for proposal was issued in April 1968. A joint General Dynamics-Grumman team and the then-Lockheed Aircraft Corp. were chosen from among the competitors to refine their proposals.

Although Lockheed had four decades of land-based antisubmarine warfare experience dating back to the World War II-era Hudson, the company had only built one carrier-based aircraft to that point, the T2V-1 SeaStar trainer. To build a strong Navy-oriented team, Lockheed first brought on LTV Aerospace, formerly Vought, with its long history in carrier aviation, as a partner. Then the Federal Systems Division of Sperry Rand was added to develop the aircraft's computerized acoustic detection system, a first for an airborne antisubmarine warfare platform.

The Lockheed team was declared the winner of the VSX competition on August 4th, 1969. One of several speakers at the 2009 retirement ceremony was current Lockheed Martin F-35 Executive Vice President Tom Burbage, who flew the Viking as a Navy test pilot and later ran the S-3 program for the company. He noted that "the S-3 was a unique program. We went from first contract to first contact over a submarine in just three years."

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a US Navy Lockheed S-3A Viking anti-submarine aircraft that was attached to VS-29 "Dragonfires", then embarked upon the USS Enterprise (CVN-65) during the 1970s. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 9-inches
Length: 11-1/2-inches

Release Date: October 2018

Historical Account: "The West is the Best" - In 1975, after transitioning from the S-2 Tracker to the S-3A Viking, VS-29 made the first WESTPAC S-3A deployment while attached to Carrier Air Wing Fourteen (CVW-14) embarked on USS Emterprise (CVN-65). In 1977 VS-29 deployed as part of CVW-2 aboard USS Ranger (CV-61). The Dragonfires joined CVW-15 in 1981 aboard USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) for WESTPAC deployment.

VS-29, as part of CVW-15, next deployed aboard USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) on her maiden voyage. The Dragonfires again cruised aboard Vinson in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990. In 1990, the Dragonfires transferred to CVW-11 aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72). In May 1991, VS-29 deployed aboard LINCOLN to the Arabian Gulf. En route to the Gulf, Lincoln was a key player in Operation Fiery Vigil, the evacuation of Subic Naval Base during the eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

VS-29 cruised aboard the Lincoln again in June 1993. Initially VS-29 participated in Operation Southern Watch in Iraq. After two and a half months in the Arabian Gulf, the Lincoln Battle Group was called away to join Operation Continue Hope, supporting the United Nations humanitarian mission in Somalia.

In April 1995, VS-29 once again set sail for the Arabian Gulf. Dragonfire aircrew flew over 300 sorties and 1000 hours in support of Operation Southern Watch. Heightened tensions in the region forced the Lincoln Battle Group to remain on station until September in support of Operation Vigilant Sentinel.