RAAF P-8A flies for Operation Gateway

A Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon has completed its first overseas deployment to Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Base Butterworth as part of Operation Gateway, the RAAF announced on 7 June.

The aircraft was deployed as part of work to reach Initial Operating Capability for the aircraft and its systems over the next 12 months.

This deployment to RMAF Butterworth marks the first time an RAAF P-8A Poseidon has operated from an overseas environment since the first aircraft arrived in November 2016.

Operation Gateway is Australia's enduring contribution to the preservation of regional security and stability in South East Asia, providing maritime surveillance in the region. During the deployment, the P-8A carried out patrols in the Northern Indian Ocean and South China Sea.

Each mission used the Poseidon’s advanced sensor suite and data connectivity to conduct routine maritime surveillance on merchant and naval shipping along some of the world’s busiest shipping routes.

The Poseidon’s predecessor, the AP-3C Orion, has operated from RMAF Butterworth for many decades as part of Operation Gateway. Poseidon will take over this surveillance role in 2018.

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