UK P-8As to cost £250m each
The US has agreed to the foreign military sale of nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft to the UK at a cost of $3.2 billion (£2.24 billion).
The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency approval means that the UK can acquire the P-8A aircraft along with associated equipment, training, and support, which comes to an estimated £250 million each.
This is despite no modifications being made to the aircraft so they can be refuelled or to suit UK weaponry.
The proposed sale will allow the UK to re-establish its currently unfunded maritime surveillance aircraft capability that was divested when its Nimrod MRA4 maritime patrol aircraft programme was cancelled.
Boeing is the prime contractor for the potential foreign military sale, and implementation of the proposed sale will require around 64 Boeing personnel to support the programme in the UK.
Other contractors include Martin Baker, General Electric, Arnprior Aerospace, Symmetrics, Terma, Exelis, Northrop Grumman, Pole Zero, Telephonics, Raytheon, Spirit, Rockwell Collins, GC Micro and ViaSat.
The P-8A Poseidon is designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It can be used for broad-area maritime and littoral operations. It is derived from the Boeing 737-800 commercial aircraft.
Related Equipment in Defence Insight
More from Naval Warfare
-
![Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation]()
Beyond GPS: How LEO satellites are changing the game in naval navigation
Satellite navigation is increasingly critical for global maritime defence, and Low Earth Orbit satellites are rapidly overtaking the traditional and more widely used Medium Earth Orbit option as they are less susceptible to jamming or spoofing.
-
![US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials]()
US continues to review AUKUS submarine deal as HII ticks off new Virginia-class sea trials
The initial sea trials for Virginia-class SSN 798 conducted by Newport News Shipbuilding division and the US Navy marked an “important step”, but the ongoing AUKUS review casts a shadow over what the progress means for the partner nations.
-
![US Coast Guard advances plans to acquire small response boats]()
US Coast Guard advances plans to acquire small response boats
The maritime security service is looking to purchase up to four demonstrators as it seeks to ensure the force’s goals are achievable before continuing its acquisition programme.
-
![US Navy confirms Q2 FY2026 contract award for Tomahawk Block V modernisation]()
US Navy confirms Q2 FY2026 contract award for Tomahawk Block V modernisation
The agreement with Raytheon will comprise the acquisition and delivery of maritime seeker suite technologies and processing capabilities for 35 to 96 missiles.
