New P-8A Poseidon aircraft delivered to US Navy
The US Navy has taken delivery of the seventh production P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville. The aircraft has joined a fleet of six P-8As currently being used to train navy crew.
The aircraft was officially handed over by Boeing on 29 March when it departed Boeing Field in Seattle for the flight to Jacksonville. This delivery marks the first delivery for the second low-rate initial production contract awarded to the company in November 2011.
Boeing is contracted to build and support 24 P-8A aircraft in total as part of three LRIP contracts awarded in 2011 and 2012. The navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As, which are based on the next-generation Boeing 737-800 platform.
Rick Heerdt, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager, said: ‘This is our second P-8A delivery of 2013, and we’ll continue to provide the navy with new Poseidon aircraft at a rate of nearly one a month. We’ve got a full factory of P-8As for the US Navy and P-8I aircraft for India, and we’re working side-by-side with both customers to introduce the aircraft’s advanced capabilities into their fleets.’
The P-8A Poseidon is a versatile multi-mission aircraft designed to provide broad long-range maritime patrol capabilities, including anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. These aircraft are being acquired by the US Navy to replace its P-3 fleet.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies]()
US Navy’s MUSV programme could lay the USV procurement blueprint for NATO allies
The programme’s structure as a marketplace will allow multiple companies to compete for ongoing procurements; an approach which could be replicated across the Atlantic.
-
![Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress]()
Funding for the future US Navy Trump-class battleship sparks controversy in Congress
Lawmakers question the US Navy’s proposed $2 billion investment in the Trump-class battleship as concerns over cost, technology maturity and operational relevance fuel growing bipartisan scrutiny on Capitol Hill.
-
![Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200]()
Germany sinks F126 frigate programme in favour of cheaper MEKO A-200
On 24 June 2026, the German Ministry of Defence announced it was cancelling the F126 frigate programme in favour of procuring eight MEKO A-200 DEU frigates.
-
![UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition]()
UK’s Type 31 frigate balances cost pressure with long-term export ambition
The UK shipbuilder’s full-year results to the end of March revealed the impact of the £140 million charge linked to design changes and rework on the Royal Navy’s Type 31 frigate programme.
