Australian P-8A makes maiden flight
The first Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft has successfully completed its maiden flight, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 25 May.
The aircraft flew from Renton Airfield, Washington, to Boeing Field where will be fitted with mission systems as part of Australia's project AIR 7000.
The P-8A will replace the RAAF's in-service AP-3C Orion fleet. Its primary roles will include detection and response of submarine and surface threats, search and rescue support and surveillance and reconnaissance.
A RAAF crew will fly the P-8A from the US to Australia in late 2016 after post-production tests and acceptance.
The aircraft has a length of 39.5m, maximum take-off weight of 85.82 tonnes, wingspan of 37.6m, maximum range of 7,500km and top speed of 907kmph.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship]()
US Navy extends the deadline for submitting proposals for the Next Generation Logistics Ship
NAVSEA plans to select up to three suppliers for the concept design phase of the programme in Q2 FY2026.
-
![Advances in USV technology help develop tomorrow’s hybrid fleet]()
Advances in USV technology help develop tomorrow’s hybrid fleet
As services like the Royal Navy and US Navy aim to develop hybrid fleets to reduce reliance on and dangers to crewed vessels, L3Harris, Metal Shark and Red Cat step forward.
-
![South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch]()
South Korea displays domestic technology capabilities with KSS-III submarine launch
Hanwha Ocean’s Jang Yeong-sil is the Republic of Korea Navy’s first 3,600t submarine and is the first of three boats in the military’s KSS-III programme.
-
![ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth]()
ST Engineering Marine expands capacity, seeks regional partners for growth
The company could be looking to collaborate with other Asian nations as well as countries further afield as it pushes ahead with its shipyard expansion plans.
