RAF receives final P-8A Poseidon
The ninth and final P-8A Poseidon arriving at RAF Lossiemouth. (Photo: RAF)
Boeing has successfully completed the delivery of all nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft as contracted by the RAF.
Boeing has announced it successfully delivered the ninth and final P-8A Poseidon to the RAF, all nine aircraft have been delivered within the last two years.
The aircraft arrived in Scotland in February 2020 and IOC was declared in April of the same year. The P-8A arrived at RAF Lossiemouth on 11 January.
A new facility was designed and built to house the RAF’s P-8A Poseidon fleet. It was a £100 million joint MoD-Boeing investment and was handed over to the RAF in June 2020.
In December 2020, the RAF announced that RAF Lossiemouth would also be home to its future fleet of E-7 Wedgetail AEW&C aircraft, with the first two currently undergoing modification in Birmingham.
The Poseidon supports anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface unit warfare, surveillance and long-range SAR for the UK. More than a dozen UK-based suppliers produce components for the P-8, making up 5% of every P-8 aircraft.
According to Shephard Defence Insight, in 2019, the RAF began the process of ordering the P-8A. The number grew to nine as the final batch of four aircraft was contracted in a $2.4 billion deal, including aircraft for the USN and Norway.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![Leonardo plans to fly uncrewed fighters alongside M-346 aircraft by mid-2026]()
Leonardo plans to fly uncrewed fighters alongside M-346 aircraft by mid-2026
The two uncrewed fighter aircraft will be made in conjunction with Baykar, which joined forces with Leonardo under LBA Systems in June 2025 to develop and produce uncrewed aerial systems for the international market.
-
![UK firm Skycutter comes out top in first US Drone Dominance Program competition]()
UK firm Skycutter comes out top in first US Drone Dominance Program competition
The startup was the only UK company to take part in the first Gauntlet for the programme, joining forces with its Ukraine partner to participate in the event.
-
![Robinson launches new uncrewed aircraft business unit, unveils new UAS cargo platform]()
Robinson launches new uncrewed aircraft business unit, unveils new UAS cargo platform
The new entity incorporates crewed and uncrewed capabilities to tackle a variety of mission demands in both defence and commercial markets.
-
![US plans to raise defence production by 300% but multiple uncertainties remain]()
US plans to raise defence production by 300% but multiple uncertainties remain
The strategy, schedule and budget to support Washington’s intention to speed up the manufacturing of defence capabilities remain unclear.
-
![Switzerland faces procurement shake-up with reduced F-35 buy and five-year Patriot delays]()
Switzerland faces procurement shake-up with reduced F-35 buy and five-year Patriot delays
The reduction in the number of planned F-35A aircraft from 36 to 30 by the Swiss government comes due to budget constraints, with no firm plans to fill the gap despite “negative consequences”.
-
![What will the replacement of A-10s by F-35s mean for the US Air Force?]()
What will the replacement of A-10s by F-35s mean for the US Air Force?
The USAF plans to phase out its 162 in-operation A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs by the end of FY2026, replacing them with F-35As which will bring a leap in capabilities in terms of lethality, survivability and speed.
