Spirit starts production of RAAF P-8A
Spirit AeroSystems commenced production of the first P-8A aircraft for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in October, the company announced on 20 November.
The first unit is expected to be delivered to Boeing in early 2016. A total of eight P-8A aircraft are on order for the RAAF.
The aircraft is based on a military derivative of the 737 aircraft. Spirit is responsible for 70% of the 737 aircraft build. The 737-800 fuselage receives military specific in-line modifications before it is sent to Boeing’s final assembly facility in Renton, Washington, where all aircraft structural features unique to the P-8A are incorporated.
Duane Hawkins, senior vice president of Boeing, defense and regional jet programs, Spirit, said: ‘Spirit is proud to be on the P-8A programme providing this important capability to the RAAF. Spirit has a unique capability to build military specific aircraft in the same 737 commercial production line that is producing 42 airplanes a month. We are able to use decades of experience building the 737 on military derivative programmes, which makes the P-8A more affordable and the highest quality possible.’
RAAF Air Commodore Adam Brown, said: ‘Our new P-8 will be the first of a new generation of maritime surveillance for Australia. We’re particularly excited and proud to get what we think is the best maritime patrol aircraft in the world coming to service in our air force.’
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
You may also like
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition]()
Suppliers await next step in Australia’s mine warfare transition
Australia’s mine countermeasure capability remains in flux as the Huon-class nears retirement, but accelerated investment in autonomous systems is opening a path for industry.
-
![Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?]()
Can the US Navy ask Indo-Pacific allies to do more while training with them less?
As the Iran War draws US ships and marine corps units away from the Indo-Pacific, curtailed exercises and a temporary carrier gap are exposing tensions between Washington’s demand for more self-reliant allies and the joint training needed to realise that ambition.
-
![How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?]()
How could Rheinmetall’s GMF 140 fit with ongoing programmes in North America?
With Canada committed to its River-class replacement and the USN pursuing a lower-cost frigate, Rheinmetall will need to demonstrate where the GMF 140 can fill a capability gap in the North American fleet.
-
![Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment]()
Australian industry programme builds pipeline for Virginia-class sustainment
Australian businesses can now bid to support Virginia-class submarine sustainment in Western Australia, as momentum around the Henderson Defence Precinct also builds.
-
![South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest]()
South Korea, Japan and Turkey vie for US shipbuilding access in future frigate contest
Washington’s search for a foreign-built frigate could hand South Korea, Japan and Turkey a larger prize than a double-hull order: a foothold inside the US shipbuilding industrial base.
