| |
|||
| a | |||
Naval Defense Industry News - USA, Australia |
|||
Boeing
to Provide 9 P-8A Poseidon to US Navy, 4 to RAAF as Part of 2nd Full-Rate
Production Lot |
|||
Boeing
will provide the first P-8A
Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for Australia and additional
P-8As for the U.S. Navy following a $1.49 billion contract award from
the Navy for 13 aircraft. The order includes nine aircraft for the U.S.
Navy and four Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF),
a long-time partner to the U.S. Navy on P-8A development. |
|||
 P-8A Poseidon during Harpoon release testing. Picture: US Navy |
|||
“By
working together since the early stages of P-8A development, the U.S.
and Australia have created one airplane configuration that serves the
needs of both countries,” said Capt. Scott Dillon, U.S. Navy P-8
program manager. “The U.S. and Australian P-8As will be able to
operate with each other effectively and affordably for decades to come.”
This latest award puts Boeing on contract to build the Navy’s second lot of full-rate production aircraft, bringing the U.S. Navy’s fleet total to 62 P-8As. Boeing has delivered 28 Poseidons to date. “Delivering premier aircraft on schedule and on cost has become a hallmark of the P-8 program,” said James Dodd, Boeing vice president and general manager of Mobility, Surveillance and Engagement. “We look forward to building on Boeing’s long-standing relationship with Australia by providing the quality, value and capability of the P-8A.” Based on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A offers the worlds’ most advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The Navy has deployed the first two P-8A patrol squadrons since operations started in 2013. |
 A P-8A Poseidon aircraft assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 conducts the first West Coast integrated Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) training exercise with an MH-60R helicopter from Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 75 in the Southern California operating area on April 30, 2015. After the US, Australia will become the second nation to deploy the P-8A Poseidon with the MH-60R Romeo for Anti-Submarine Warfare and Anti-Surface Warfare missions. (Official U.S. Navy photo/Released) |
|||
Australia’s
participation in the P-8 program began in 2009 when the government signed
the first in a series of memorandums of understanding to work with the
U.S. Navy on system design and development. The U.S. Navy and the RAAF
also established a joint program office that operates at Naval Air Station
Patuxent River, Md. Production of the first Australian P-8A will begin later this year, with delivery to the RAAF scheduled for 2016. Boeing will also provide the RAAF with a complete training system for the P-8A, using simulators to train pilots and mission crews to operate the aircraft, its sensors, communications and weapons systems without relying on costly live flights. Link to P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft technical datasheet |
|||
