US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon fleet grows

The US Navy has taken delivery of its 15th Boeing-built P-8A Poseidon aircraft at Naval Air Station Jacksonville on schedule, the company reported on 6 August. The aircraft will join the other Poseidon aircraft being used to train navy crews in preparation of deployment.

The delivery follows Patrol Squadron (VP) 16’s recent return home from the P-8A’s first operational deployment. The ‘War Eagles’ of VP-16 were deployed for seven months, operating out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. They were recently replaced by the ‘Mad Foxes’ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5.

The navy will deploy the P-8A aircraft along with the rest of the fleet in support of long-range maritime patrol missions.

Boeing is under contract to build and support 53 P-8A aircraft for the US Navy. Current requirements could see the navy extend its fleet to a total of 117 P-8A aircraft as it replaces its existing P-3 fleet.