USN and RAAF to receive more Poseidon aircraft
USN P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft. (Photo: Boeing)
USN will obtain 11 more P-8A aircraft and RAAF fleet will grow by two.
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.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
P-8A Poseidon - Additional (US)
P-8 Poseidon (13-14) [Australia]
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![AI-controlled F-16s advance towards autonomous multi-aircraft operations in US]()
AI-controlled F-16s advance towards autonomous multi-aircraft operations in US
The US plans to progressively expand VENOM/AIR testing from single-aircraft flights to multi-platform autonomous operations over the next 12–24 months, generating data that could support future US military AI programmes, including Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
-
![AIM-260 JATM deal puts Australia’s missile-industrial ambitions in focus]()
AIM-260 JATM deal puts Australia’s missile-industrial ambitions in focus
While a potentially accelerated acquisition timeline could strengthen the RAAF’s long-range air combat capability, Canberra’s continued reliance on US missile production is also put under the spotlight in parallel to its push to build a sovereign industry.
-
![Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?]()
Attack drones versus CUAS – the future of warfare or just another trend?
Demand signals for counter-drone technology are strong and the market is becoming crowded, but is this really the beginning of a new phase of warfare or will commentators be talking about something else 10 years from now?
