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.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![How Canada is preparing the future River-class destroyers to endure uncrewed threats]()
How Canada is preparing the future River-class destroyers to endure uncrewed threats
Designed in 2019, Canada's new River-class destroyers are planned to be handed over by the 2050s. The long procurement timeline has cast doubt on whether the platforms will be obsolete for tomorrow’s warfare.
-
![Could the USCG icebreaker requirement open the door for more inland shipbuilding?]()
Could the USCG icebreaker requirement open the door for more inland shipbuilding?
The formation of a Great Lakes shipbuilding alliance could prompt a shift in how the US approaches naval and coast guard construction. But can distributed inland shipyards ease the country’s shipbuilding capacity?
-
![US Navy bets on radio frequency to increase vessel protection against aerial threats]()
US Navy bets on radio frequency to increase vessel protection against aerial threats
A Northrop Grumman RF-based defensive capability will equip USN destroyers and aircraft carriers to enhance their survivability against missile and drone attacks.
-
![Naval Group’s Barracuda bid could deepen Franco-Greek naval alignment]()
Naval Group’s Barracuda bid could deepen Franco-Greek naval alignment
As the Hellenic Navy looks to replace its ageing submarines with a next-generation fleet, other likely contenders for the programme include TKMS, Saab, Fincantieri, Navantia and Hanwha Ocean.
