Opinion: UK back in the MPA business, but is it permanent?
The Royal Air Force has officially taken delivery of the first P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). This marks the beginning of a return to maritime patrol operations following a ten-year capability gap brought about by the scrapping of the Nimrod MRA4 programme as part of the 2010 Strategic Defence & Security Review (SDSR), one of the most contentious decisions of that process.
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Naval Warfare
-
UK’s $1 billion AUKUS support request signals strong ongoing US collaboration
The latest foreign military sales request from the UK has implications for the future of the programme and collaboration between the three nations.
-
What the rise of interoperability between Western allies means for defence procurement
Major naval initiatives including the European Patrol Corvette programmes and Norway’s UK partnership-focused purchase of Type 26 frigates point to the growing interest in the advantages of commonality across allied navies.
-
Kraken’s Royal Navy USV contract signals next step in crewed-uncrewed integration
The UK Royal Navy’s rapid procurement of uncrewed platforms aligns with the force’s strategic shift towards a fleet better equipped to handle modern threats.
-
HMS Anson’s milestone stay in Australia cut short during AUKUS deployment
The Astute-class submarine’s visit to Australia was the first time maintenance activity on a UK Royal Navy nuclear submarine had been carried out in the country.