The US Navy has received its 18th P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing, the fifth delivery this year.
The latest aircraft will join other Poseidon deployed in training navy crew members, and will help the navy set up a successive squadron.
Boeing Mobility, Surveillance & Engagement vice-president and programme manager Rick Heerdt said: "We’re proud to continue to deliver aircraft on cost and on schedule.
"The navy’s need for the P-8A resonates even more following Patrol Squadron 5’s recent operational deployment."
The navy plans to use the P-8A multi-mission maritime aircraft to replace its ageing fleet of turbo-prop P-3 Orion aircraft.
The Boeing-led team includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, BAE Systems, Spirit AeroSystems and GE Aviation.
A derivative of Boeing’s next-generation 737-800 commercial aircraft, the P-8A can be deployed for long-range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
In August, Boeing signed an initial $296m contract with the US Navy for the procurement of required components for the production of 12 more full-rate production (FRP) lot 2 P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft.
Running through to April 2018, the contract initiates the funding for a second batch of FRP jets, including eight for the US Navy and four for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).
The VP-16 War Eagles squadron, which completed 600 sorties and 3,500 flight hours, was replaced earlier this year with the VP-5 ‘Mad Foxes’.
Image: The US Navy’s 18th Poseidon aircraft departing Boeing’s field in Seattle, US. Photo: courtesy of Boeing.
