US Navy orders more P-8As
The US Navy has awarded a contract to Boeing under which the company will build additional P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and the US Navy to enhance their maritime patrol capabilities, Boeing announced on 29 January.
The $2.5 billion order includes 16 aircraft for the US Navy and four for the RAAF. The current order is Lot 7 of the P-8A Program of Record.
With the current contract, the company is now building 78 Poseidons for the US Navy, of which 33 have been delivered; and eight for the Australian fleet. Delivery of the Lot 7 aircraft will start in late 2017. The first Australian P-8A will be delivered to the RAAF in late 2016.
James Dodd, vice president and programme manager, P-8 programs, Boeing, said: ‘We continue to hear feedback from our navy customer about the incredible capabilities of the P-8A. The deployed squadrons tell us it’s exceeding expectations – we’re looking forward to providing even more capability to the fleet and to Australia.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy]()
Entire Black Sea “a contested maritime area”, says Commander of Estonian Navy
The use of uncrewed vessels and vehicles has been crucial so far, but the Commander of the Estonian Navy warns against inflating their importance.
-
![US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator]()
US Navy names DDG 146 Arleigh Burke destroyer after former US Senator
The latest of the Flight III Arleigh Burke vessels has been named for a former US Senator and Vietnam veteran.
-
![Turkey begins steel-cutting on MUGEM and MiLDEN vessels]()
Turkey begins steel-cutting on MUGEM and MiLDEN vessels
The MUGEM, TF-2000 and MiLDEN programmes all aim to boost Turkey’s domestic shipbuilding prowess and its fleet.
-
![US to resume production of SM–3 IB interceptors]()
US to resume production of SM–3 IB interceptors
Although the US Navy and MDA planned to discontinue the acquisition of this missile, Congress provided $250 million for its manufacturing.
