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
-
From Poland to the Pacific: Can Miecznik become a blueprint for other navies?
Babcock is taking its Polish industrial partnership approach to Denmark and New Zealand as navies seek sovereign shipbuilding skills alongside ships.
-
Aevex, Lockheed Martin and Thales deals highlight consolidation in naval technology
A wave of acquisitions is bringing specialist autonomy and underwater technology under the umbrella of larger defence contractors. As a result, navies may gain faster access to capability, but not necessarily a broader choice of suppliers.
-
Italy’s DDX destroyer deal opens a decade of naval spending
A €3.7 billion destroyer contract for Fincantieri and Leonardo is only the start, with submarines, corvettes and a new carrier pointing to more opportunities.
-
Production-ready beats prototype-ready in the US Navy’s MUSV marketplace
HII, Saronic and Galliano Marine Services have won US Navy production contracts to supply medium uncrewed surface vessels. The marketplace approach behind them sets the bar for suppliers eyeing allied navy competitions.
-
Anduril’s $6.6bn wager on fixing America’s submarine bottleneck
Anduril’s Arsenal-2 is a gamble on a brand-new yard and perfect timing, but with Virginia-class output stuck at 1.1 to 1.2 boats a year, it is a bet worth making.