RAAF receives latest P-8A Poseidon
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has received its newest P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the Australian Department of Defence announced on 9 April.
The aircraft will be deployed for a wide range of operations including anti-submarine warfare; maritime and overland ISR; border security; and SAR missions.
The aircraft has been fitted with a raft of diagnostic equipment to allow the RAAF to collect data to analyse the life of the aircraft and identify future sustainment plans.
Linda Reynolds, Australia’s Minister for Defence Industry, said: ‘These aircraft will be based and sustained at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, creating over 120 jobs by next year. The project is part of a broader intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance precinct being developed at the Super Base, which will support and create highly skilled jobs in South Australia for decades to come.’
The aircraft is now undergoing its verification and validation flying in the US, and will join the rest of the fleet in Australia, based at RAAF Base Edinburgh, in mid-June 2019.
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