First Australian P-8A Poseidon accepted
Boeing has rolled-out the first Australian P-8A Poseidon aircraft in Seattle, Washington, US, the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) announced on 28 September.
The aircraft, the first of twelve on order with Boeing, has been accepted into service by the chief of the RAAF.
The P-8A Poseidon is based on designs of Boeing’s 737-800 fuselage, with modifications to include a weapons bay, under-wing and under-fuselage hard points for weapons, and increased strength to enable continued high angle of bank turns and low level operations.
GPCAPT Roger McCutcheon, director maritime intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and response transition office, said: ‘Over the next three years, the P-8A will replace our current fleet of AP-3C Orion aircraft currently based at RAAF Base Edinburgh.
‘The first aircraft will arrive in Australia on 15 November 2016, with the remaining 11 aircraft to be delivered by March 2020.’
Since early 2015, RAAF aircrew and maintenance personnel have been training for the arrival of the P-8A, working alongside the US Navy at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process]()
How the Golden Fleet will change the US Navy acquisition process
The procurement of the future USN Golden Fleet is planned to be less bureaucratic than previous strategies, involving AI-enabled designs and scheduling tools to increase productivity and avoid delays.
-
![What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?]()
What capabilities are being tested under AUKUS Pillar II?
Collaboration on AUKUS Pillar II extends beyond the core trilateral agreement, presenting global opportunities for companies with advanced technologies.
-
![Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliver]()
Australia signs US$2.8 billion ship deal with Austal but puts pressure on company to deliver
The A$4 billion Landing Craft Heavy contract for Austal follows on from a A$1 billion deal in December for Landing Craft Medium ships, but the Australian government has made it clear that a contract for Mogami frigates is reliant on the success of these two contracts.
-
![Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms]()
Turkey targets Italian market with strategic partnership on USVs and hybrid platforms
Havelsan, VN Maritime and Piloda Defence will collaborate to develop and integrate a range of maritime solutions with a view to secure a first procurement contract in Italy in the first half of this year.
-
![Could Asia and the Middle East offer growth opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?]()
Could Asia and the Middle East offer growth opportunities for Italy’s Fincantieri?
Export campaigns for Fincantieri’s submarines and frigates are central to the company’s ambitions as billions of dollars in unawarded contracts come into focus.
