Leiden NL, 16th October 2025
To all involved parties,
On behalf of the Board of the Stichting Behoud Lockheed Orion 302, we hereby announce the discontinuation of the project concerning the preservation of the former Royal Netherlands Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion 302.
This decision has been made after careful consideration of several significant developments that have affected the project’s feasibility. One of the key pillars supporting the initiative, the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF), was compelled to withdraw its involvement due to personnel shortages and the resulting necessity to refocus on its primary mission, particularly in light of the rapidly evolving geopolitical situation.
Due to the loss of this crucial partner, the Stichting Behoud Lockheed Orion 302 faced increasing challenges in keeping the project within its financial and temporal limitations. It became progressively more difficult to ensure the creation of a safe working environment that would adequately protect all personnel and volunteers, particularly in relation to compliance with regulations on the handling of CMR substances (carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic materials). The RNLAF had previously provided access to facilities that met these requirements; the loss of such facilities rendered continuation of the project exceedingly complex under current civilian safety standards.
Consequently, and after thorough deliberation, the Stichting Behoud Lockheed Orion 302 has concluded that it can no longer responsibly proceed. We deeply regret that it was not possible to add this important heritage project to the national collection, and that the rich history of this part of the Dutch Naval Air Service (MLD) will not be preserved nor presented to the public as we had envisioned.
Following this difficult decision, the Board wishes to extend its profound appreciation to all parties and individuals who have supported and contributed to this project, including the many partner foundations with similar heritage preservation objectives, whose encouragement and cooperation have been greatly valued.
First and foremost, we wish to express our sincere gratitude to the German Navy for its exceptional cooperation and patience throughout this process. Since our initial contact in December 2022, the German Navy has been both constructive and supportive, allowing us the time and opportunity to carefully explore the feasibility of acquiring the P-3C 60+02 (formerly 302) for museum purposes. Their openness and willingness to engage have been instrumental in enabling our efforts thus far.
We also extend our deepest appreciation to the Royal New Zealand Defence Force and the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum for their considerable assistance, professionalism, and commitment during the preparatory stages of this project. We are profoundly grateful for their willingness to donate all required components and ground support equipment, a contribution that proved absolutely crucial to the success of our mission. A significant portion of these items has already been dismantled and carefully stored in anticipation of our planned visit later this month to prepare them for shipment. It is with genuine regret that we must now bring these joint efforts to a close, as their dedication has been of immeasurable value.
Our gratitude also goes to the United States Navy, which is currently making a dedicated effort to locate several missing components and, through the Netherlands Naval Attaché, explore possibilities to make these available to the project. We further acknowledge the contribution of our industrial and technical partners, whose expertise and practical support played a key role in the project’s development and feasibility studies.
Finally, we express our sincere appreciation to the National Military Museum (NMM), and to all Dutch military personnel and civil servants whose involvement proved vital in navigating administrative and diplomatic processes. Their dedication ensured that numerous formal and procedural pathways were successfully addressed, enabling the project to progress as far as it did.
With sincere appreciation,
The Board of Stichting Behoud Lockheed Orion 302
Erik Kopp, chairman Robert van Leeuwen, secretary