MPA options pitch up at RIAT
As final preparations for the Royal International Air Tattoo are made, the aerospace industry’s heavy hitters are lining up with MPA and MSA alternatives to meet the expected UK requirement ahead of the SDSR later this year.
Confirmed as attending are the Boeing P-8, the P-1 (pictured, photo credit RIAT) from Kawasaki Heavy Industries (KHI), Textron AirLand’s Scorpion multi-role jet, and Airbus Military’s C-295. The UK has been without a functioning MPA since the cancellation of the Nimrod MR4 programme in 2010.
Boeing’s P8 Poseidon, derived from the commercial 737 airliner, has long been touted as a potential option
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
More from Naval Warfare
-
FNSS looks to put uncrewed vehicles at the front of amphibious assaults
The new platform is designed to put reconnaissance, obstacle clearance and fire support ahead of the crewed force in a contested landing.
-
US turns to allies to tackle navy shipbuilding backlog
A White House memorandum acknowledges US Navy shipbuilding backlogs and a weakened industrial base, opening a formal path for South Korean and Japanese yards to help rebuild capacity.
-
US Navy’s $275 billion BBGN plan hinges on shipyard transformation
The US Navy’s planned nuclear-powered warship carries a US$275 billion price tag, but the greater story lies in the industrial overhaul needed to build it, from AI-enabled design to digital twins and modular construction.