Australia’s P-8A Poseidon achieves IOC
Australia’s P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft has achieved initial operating capability (IOC), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) announced on 20 March.
Together the Poseidon and the future MQ-4C Triton aircraft are expected to improve Australia’s ability to conduct anti-submarine warfare, maritime patrol and surveillance of Australia’s maritime areas.
The P-8A is replacing the AP-3C Orion in RAAF service. To date, six out of 12 P-8As on order have arrived in Australia and are being operated by Number 11 Squadron from RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
Is the US Navy’s Golden Fleet initiative achievable?
The effort to provide the US Navy with Trump-class battleships might face financial, production and doctrinal obstacles.
-
How will SAFE shape naval procurement for Canada and its highest-receiving members?
Canada’s inclusion on the EU’s Security Action for Europe initiative is set to enhance the country’s defence procurement strategy with important implications for some of its naval programmes, while Poland and Romania have also secured significant SAFE funding.
-
Thales wins DE&S contract for portable autonomous command centres
The agreement to provide portable autonomous command centres to the UK Royal Navy will enhance the service’s Mine Counter Measure operations and further integrate autonomous and uncrewed systems into its fleet.
-
Maritime defence in the Mediterranean faces challenges from vulnerable land power
As an indispensable energy crossroads, the Mediterranean is at serious risk from grey zone disruption. As navies increasingly employ AI data centres, what happens when cutting-edge defence technologies rely on the very infrastructure most susceptible to hybrid tactics?