L3Harris wins P-8A Poseidon support contract
The support contract for P-8As will run for the next five years. (Photo: L3Harris)
L3Harris has provided support for previous generation P-3 Orion maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). As many P-3 Orion users retire the aircraft, they have been picking up P-8A Poseidon MPAs, which L3Harris has now been contracted to support.
L3Harris will support Boeing P-8A MPAs for almost all of this decade under a contract agreed with the US Navy for that service’s aircraft but which will also include international users of the platform.
Announcing the contract award, L3Harris said it would “perform depot maintenance, repair and overhaul support of the 135 aircraft P-8A Poseidon fleet”.
It also announced that work would begin this year at L3Harris’ aircraft modification facility in Waco, Texas, and continue through to September 2029.
The aircraft specialises in maritime patrol and reconnaissance, long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
It is in use with or ordered by eight international customers, with Australia and India both operating 12, New Zealand four, Norway five and the UK nine. South Korea has ordered six with three delivered, Canada has ordered 14 and Germany has ordered eight with both countries yet to receive aircraft.
Saudi Arabia has planned to buy as many as eight aircraft, India has been in line to potentially purchase another six aircraft and the platform has also been in the running to meet a Turkish requirement.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Shield AI teases new upgraded V-Bat variant]()
Shield AI teases new upgraded V-Bat variant
The as-yet-unnamed variant will be formally unveiled in April, according to Shield AI. Of the upgrades to the V-Bat, this variant reportedly has a heavier fuel engine and is SATCOM integration-capable.
-
![Sikorsky signs $313 million maintenance contract for Australian Navy MH-60Rs]()
Sikorsky signs $313 million maintenance contract for Australian Navy MH-60Rs
The extension of its partnership with the Royal Australian Navy comes as the latter is increasing its fleet size, anticipating 12 further aircraft to be delivered by 2036.
-
![MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight]()
MBDA’s Meteor completes first F-35B test flight
The US Marine Corps’ aircraft conducted the first test flight of the missile from Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
-
![First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed]()
First German P-8 flies and upgrade of first aircraft for USN completed
The P-8 Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) is based on the Boeing 737NG airliner. It has been ordered by several countries, including Germany, and US Navy (USN) P-8s are being upgraded.
-
![Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal]()
Spain acquires Skydio’s X10D in €18 million deal
Skydio has been contracted by Spain’s Ministry of Defence to supply the Skydio 10D rotary-wing UAV to the Spanish Armed Forces. The contact is likely related to the Spanish Army’s modernisation efforts which has been enshrined in the Fuerza 35 project.
