Australia secures Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft deal
The Australian government has agreed to purchase eight P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft as part of deal worth some A$4 billion (US$3.5 billion), the defence minister has announced.
David Johnston said in a statement released on 21 February that the first Boeing aircraft will be delivered by 2017, while all eight aircraft will reach FOC by 2021.
The Poseidon purchase - alongside a planned acquisition of the MQ-4C Triton UAV - will replace the Royal Australian Air Force’s (RAAF’s) AP-3C Orion aircraft that have been in service for some 40 years.
This Poseidon-Triton pairing has been adopted by the US
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