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.’

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