US Navy orders 11 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from Boeing

Boeing has received a production contract from the US Navy for 11 P-8A Poseidon surveillance and maritime patrol aircraft.

The company noted that nine aircraft will join the US Navy fleet and the remaining two will go to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

RAAF is a cooperative partner in the P-8A aircraft joint programme since 2009.

The latest contract, which is worth $1.6bn, brings the total number of US Navy P-8A aircraft count to 128. It brings the total count of RAAF’s P-8A fleet to 14.

US Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Program Office programme manager Captain Eric Gardner said: “The P-8A continues to be an invaluable asset and these additional aircraft will help deliver expanded maritime patrol and reconnaissance capabilities to the fleet.”

The P-8A is a long-range anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare (ASW) aircraft used by the US Navy.

It is a military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation aeroplane and features a modern open mission system architecture, bomb bay and pylons for weapons.

The aircraft also has two weapons stations on each wing to carry a total of 129 sonobuoys and an in-flight refuelling system.

Over 103 P-8A aircraft are in service around the world. These aircraft recorded over 300,000 flight-hours.

P-8A Poseidon is also operated by the British Royal Air Force while the other variant P-8I is flown by the Indian Navy.

Boeing P-8A programme vice-president and programme manager Stu Voboril said: “We continue to hear feedback from deployed Navy squadrons who tell us the P-8A is exceeding expectations.

“Our focus is on delivering the world’s best maritime patrol aircraft. That only happens when teams truly collaborate, listen and focus on customer priorities.”