Viking Association

What's New: 


  • NAS Pax River Blue Angels/Viking Association Roundup June 18-19
  • The Roundup is now in the books, and it was fantastic!
  • The event featured golf, VIP viewing of the Blue Angels airshow, happy hour in Walleye’s backyard, a tour of the PAX River aviation museum, and a whiskey tasting at the Tobacco Barn Distillery.
  • Special thanks to JP Kelly for his hard work organizing the Roundup and coordinating with all venues and vendors. We also appreciate Greg “Walleye” Wallace and his spouse, Diane, for hosting a memorable evening of food, drinks, and laughter on the banks of the Potomac. Thanks as well to CAPT Rob "Kubi" Chandler, PAX River base XO and former S-3 aviator, for helping secure VIP seating for our private Blue Angels airshow viewing. Finally, we are grateful to Terry “T-Rex” Walstrom and his spouse, Roxy, for their generous financial support, which brought the Viking Association’s cost for the Roundup to zero.
  • Below are some photos from the Roundup.


NAS PAX River Roundup Photo's


  •  Tailhook 2026 (20-22 August)
  • The Viking Association has once again scheduled a "Viking breakfast" for S-3 Viking Association members (and their guests) who are attending Hook 26! 
  • To register for Hook 26' please go to the Hook website:  tailhook.net
  • The breakfast will be held on Saturday, 22 August at approximately 0900 (firming up the time with the hotel).  We already have 30+ members and guests that have signed up! 
  • If you are attending Hook 26 and would like to attend the Viking breakfast please send an email note to "vikingassociation@gmail.com" with your name and number of attendees. 
  • The breakfast will cost around $30 per person with more details to follow.


  • Viking Scholarship Update: 
  • We have reached and exceeded our initial fundraising goal of $60K to support our annual scholarship award through the Tailhook Educational Foundation (TEF)!  Our portfolio has now exceeded $63K, which allows a scholarship of $3k to be awarded annually, in perpetuity! 
  • But, we’re not done yet!  We are now targeting a goal of reaching $70K, which will increase our annual scholarship to $3.5K. The good news is, as we build toward the $70K goal through your donations, TEF has agreed to immediately award our scholarship at the $3.5K level beginning in 2026 and continuing through 2031! TEF is doing this by tapping into their general fund.
  • The Viking Association encourages our incredible members continue to step up and help us reach our new goal. We’re grateful to the many members who have generously supported the Scholarship effort to date and we encourage everyone to join us! 
  • Many members have committed to annual donations as a way to support the Viking Association scholarship benefitting the future S-3 community legacy. As a side note, each new $10k level reached adds another $500 to the annual scholarship award amount ($70k = $3.5k scholarship, $80K = $4k, $90K = $4.5K, etc.) 
  • As a another side note, in the 2026 tax year, the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" (OBBBA) which introduced a new, permanent above-the-line deduction for non-itemizers, allowing individuals to deduct up to $1000 ($2000 for married couples) in annual cash donations. Above the line means you can deduct the contribution even if you take standard deduction. 
  • Please see the "S-3 Scholarship fund" link at the top for more details, including a link to donate directly online. We also have information for those over 73 on how to donate directly using your Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your 401K. 
  • Your support for the Viking Scholarship is greatly appreciated!


Important items/news: 


  • Viking Association e-blasts
  • We have transitioned our e-blast software to a less expensive service.
  • Future e-blasts will come from: "newsletter@update.vikingassociation.org".  We recommend you add this email address to your contact list so e-blasts don't accidentally end up in your spam folder. Responses to our e-blast emails will still go to our "vikingassociation@gmail.com" address. 
  • The intent of our e-blasts / newsletter is to inform you of changes / updates to our website. The e-blast will provide summarized updates and pulse you to view more detailed information on our website. 
  • "Last Trap" section of our website
  • If you hear of anyone in the community passing away recently and would like us to add information to our "last trap" section please email us at "vikingassociation@gmail.com". 

(Click Menu Bar links for more details)


S-3 Viking History


Aircraft specifications:

Wing span: 69 feet
Length: 53 feet
Height: 23 feet
Weight: empty: 26,500 pounds

Maximum takeoff: 52,539 pounds
Speed: 518 mph
Ceiling: 40,000 feet
Range: more than 2,300 nautical miles
Power plant: two GE TF34-GE-2 turbofan engines
Crew: four
Contractor: Lockheed Martin


The VSX program (S-3) started in 1968, and, in 1969, Lockheed was awarded the contract to develop the Navy's new carrier-based, fan-powered ASW aircraft. It was designed to incorporate the latest concepts in sensors and in computer-based data processing, display and weapons control systems, and in enabling the four-man crew to effectively deal with the anticipated submarine threat. The S-3 Viking replaced the old reciprocating-engine-powered S-2 Tracker.


The S-3 Viking has all four crew members seated on ejection seats. The pilot's controls include a control stick in place of the traditional wheel. The slightly swept wing and General Electric TF-34 fan engines provide the S-3A with long-range or on-station endurance at cruise speeds and altitudes typical of subsonic jet aircraft. In-flight refueling through a retractable refueling probe can be used to further extend its mission performance. Folding wings and vertical tail provide carrier handling flexibility.

The S-3A airframe has been adapted to other roles--a characteristic for which its S-2 predecessor has long been noted. The improved S-3B version incorporates improved technology for increased radar detection range and classification, advanced acoustic processing, and support measures, and has Harpoon missile capability.


With its APS-137 Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar (ISAR), ALR-67 Electronic Surveillance Measures (ESM) system and Harpoon missile capability, the Viking plays a critical surveillance, reconnaissance and targeting role in maintaining the sea control picture for naval and joint forces. Additionally, with the retirement of the A-6, the Viking has become the principal organic tanking platform for the battlegroup and a mainstay in offensive mining. It also contributes to Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW), especially in the littoral regions.


Upgrades to the radar, mission computer, communications and navigation suite supported organic reconnaissance capabilities in the littoral regions. Added to the planned airframe structural enhancements, these upgrades prevented obsolescence and ensured an adequate inventory of this essential platform until it's disestablishment.