美国海军早在1987年就提出了P—3C的后继机——“远程空中反潜战飞机”的招标要求:能在远离基地2900公里处执行反潜、反舰、布雷、监视、侦察等任务并连续巡航4小时以上,巡航速度为0.55马赫,作战高度在6000米以下,在最大起飞重量、气温32℃时的起飞距离小于2400米。1988年洛克希德公司的 As early as 1987, the United States Navy proposed the P-3C successor, the bidding requirement for the “long-range airborne anti-submarine warplane”: it can perform anti-submarine forces, anti-ship operations, mines, surveillance and reconnaissance missions at a distance of 2,900 kilometers away from the base and continuously Cruising more than 4 hours, cruising speed 0.55 Mach, combat altitude of 6000 meters below the maximum take-off weight, temperature 32 ℃ when the takeoff distance of less than 2400 meters. Lockheed company in 1988