USN P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft. (Photo: Boeing)
The USN is procuring 11 additional P-8A Poseidon long-range anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare aircraft from Boeing for $1.7 billion, the manufacturer announced on 31 March.
Two of these Poseidons will be supplied to the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as a partner in the P-8A programme.
The latest contract will bring to 114 the total number of P-8As in the USN inventory, plus 14 bought by the RAAF via the FMS programme.
Other orders for the P-8A (or variants thereof) have come from India, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and the UK.
Poseidon can carry weapons such as the MK 54 torpedo or AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile in a bomb bay or externally mounted on pylons. It has two weapons stations on each wing and can carry 129 sonobuoys. The aircraft also features an in-flight refuelling system.
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P-8A Poseidon - Additional (US)
P-8 Poseidon (13-14) [Australia]
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