Editing Lockheed S-3 Viking (section)

===Final years and retirement===
[[File:S-3B VX-30 at NAS Jax 2010.jpg|thumb|[[VX-30]]'s S-3B, callsign "Bloodhound 700", in 2010.]]
[[File:NASA Glenn Research Center S-3B.jpg|thumb|S-3B N601NA was operated by [[NASA]] from 2009 to 2021.]]

A proposed airframe known as the [[Common Support Aircraft]] was advanced as a successor to the S-3, [[Northrop Grumman E-2 Hawkeye|E-2]], and [[Grumman C-2 Greyhound|C-2]], but this initiative failed to materialize. In 1998, the U.S. Navy awarded a $40 million contract for Lockheed Martin to perform a full-scale [[Fatigue testing]] of the existing S-3s; these tests, which commenced in June 2001, were aimed at extending the viable service life of each remaining aircraft, which had originally been certified for a structural life of 13,000 flight-hours. It was hoped that this could be extended to as much as 17,750 hours.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://news.lockheedmartin.com/2001-06-28-Lockheed-Martin-Aeronautics-Begins-S-3-Viking-Full-Scale-Fatigue-Testing |title = Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Begins S-3 Viking Full Scale Fatigue Testing |publisher = Lockheed Martins |date = 28 June 2001}}</ref>

The final carrier-based S-3B squadron, VS-22, was decommissioned at NAS Jacksonville on 29 January 2009. Sea Control Wing Atlantic was decommissioned the following day, along with the last S-3s in frontline fleet service.<ref name="Navy Retires S-3B">{{cite web |url = http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/090130ae_s3b-viking-retirement.html |title = U.S. Navy retires last Lockheed Martin S-3B Viking from fleet service |publisher = Lockheed Martin |date = 30 January 2009 |access-date = 21 April 2010 |archive-date = 2 June 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090602055342/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/090130ae_s3b-viking-retirement.html |url-status = dead }} {{Cite web |url=http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/090130ae_s3b-viking-retirement.html |title=U.S. Navy Retires Last Lockheed Martin S-3B Viking from Fleet Service; Carrier-Based Multi-Mission Aircraft Completes 35-Year Career &#124; Lockheed Martin |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-date=2 June 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090602055342/http://www.lockheedmartin.com/news/press_releases/2009/090130ae_s3b-viking-retirement.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name = "desertwarrior 2009"/>

In June 2010, the first of three S-3s to patrol the [[Pacific Missile Test Center]]'s range areas off of California was reactivated and delivered. The jet aircraft's higher speed, ten-hour endurance, modern radar, and a LANTIRN targeting pod allowed it to quickly confirm the test range being clear of wayward ships and aircraft before tests commence.<ref name="S-3B re-enters service at test range">{{cite web |url = http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr100603_1_n.shtml |title = S-3B Viking re-enters USN service in test range surveillance role |publisher = IHS Jane's |date = 3 June 2010 |access-date = 8 June 2010}}</ref> These S-3Bs are flown by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Thirty ([[VX-30]]) based out of [[NAS Point Mugu]], California.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=4604 |title = Last S-3B Viking overhauled at FRCSE heads for California-based test squadron |publisher = Naval Air Systems Command (United States Navy) |date = 3 June 2011 |access-date = 23 April 2013 |archive-date = 26 September 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120926080000/http://www.navair.navy.mil/index.cfm?fuseaction=home.NAVAIRNewsStory&id=4604 |url-status = dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.janes.com/news/defence/idr/idr100603_1_n.shtml |title = S-3B Viking re-enters USN service in test range surveillance role |publisher = Janes.com |access-date = 13 March 2015}}</ref> By late 2015, the U.S. Navy were operating a total of three Vikings in support roles. One was relocated to [[Davis–Monthan Air Force Base|The Boneyard]] in November 2015, while the final two were retired, one being stored and the other transferred to [[NASA]], on 11 January 2016, officially retiring the S-3 from Navy service.<ref name="flightglobal14jan16">{{cite web |url = https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/us-navy-retires-its-last-s-3b-vikings-420816/ |title = US Navy retires its last S-3B Vikings |publisher = Flightglobal.com |date = 14 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=Navy_retire>{{cite web |url = http://theaviationist.com/2016/01/14/u-s-navy-bids-farewell-to-the-s-3-viking/ |title = U.S. Navy bids farewell to the S-3 Viking |publisher = theaviationist.com |date = 14 January 2016}}</ref>

During 2004, NASA acquired four of the withdrawn S-3Bs for use at its [[Glenn Research Center]].<ref name = "nasaretire ain">{{cite web |url = https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2021-07-15/nasa-retires-last-flying-s-3-viking |title = NASA Retires Last Flying S-3 Viking |publisher = [[AINonline]] |first = David |last = Donald |date = 14 July 2021}}</ref> In 2009, one of these aircraft (USN BuNo 160607) was given the civil registration ''N601NA'', it was involved in numerous tests conducted by the agency. For over a decade, this aircraft was flying almost every day in support for various research programs;<ref name = "nasaretire ain"/> one such initiative was the definition of new [[Federal Aviation Administration]] communication standards for [[unmanned aerial vehicle]]s operating in US airspace.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/2013-07-05/nasa-tests-prototype-uas-datalink-radio |title = NASA Tests Prototype UAS Datalink Radio |publisher = AINonline |first = Bill |last = Carey |date = 5 July 2013}}</ref> However, a lack of spare parts and increasing difficulty supporting the type meant their use could not continue in the long term. The last of the NASA's S-3Bs, which were the final working members of the type in existence with any operator at that point, were retired on 13 July 2021.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.nasa.gov/feature/glenn/2021/NASA-retires-S-3B-Viking-research-aircraft-from-its-fleet/ |title = NASA Retires a Research Workhorse |publisher = NASA |date = 8 July 2021 |access-date = 12 July 2021}}</ref><ref name = "nasaretire ain"/>

Naval analysts have suggested that the U.S. Navy return to service an unspecified quantity of the stored S-3s in order to fill gaps that were left in the carrier air wing when it was retired. This move was promoted as a response to the realization that the [[People's Liberation Army Navy|Chinese navy]] is producing increasingly capable weapons that can threaten carriers beyond the range their aircraft can strike them. Against the [[DF-21#DF-21D (CSS-5 Mod-4) Anti-ship ballistic missile|DF-21D]] [[anti-ship ballistic missile]], carrier-based [[F/A-18 Super Hornet]]s and [[F-35C Lightning II]]s have about half the unrefueled strike range, so bringing the S-3 back to aerial tanking duties would extend their range against it, as well as free up Super Hornets forced into tanking. Against submarines armed with anti-ship cruise missiles like the [[Klub missile|Klub]] and [[YJ-18]], the S-3 would restore area coverage for ASW duties. Bringing the S-3 out of retirement could at least be a stop-gap measure to increase the survivability and capabilities of aircraft carriers until new aircraft can be developed for such purposes.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://thediplomat.com/2015/11/u-s-navy-time-to-bring-back-the-s-3-viking/ |title = U.S. Navy: Time to Bring Back the S-3 Viking? |publisher = Thediplomat.com |date = 9 November 2015}}</ref>