US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon fleet grows
The US Navy has taken delivery of its 15th Boeing-built P-8A Poseidon aircraft at Naval Air Station Jacksonville on schedule, the company reported on 6 August. The aircraft will join the other Poseidon aircraft being used to train navy crews in preparation of deployment.
The delivery follows Patrol Squadron (VP) 16’s recent return home from the P-8A’s first operational deployment. The ‘War Eagles’ of VP-16 were deployed for seven months, operating out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. They were recently replaced by the ‘Mad Foxes’ of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5.
The navy will deploy the P-8A aircraft along with the rest of the fleet in support of long-range maritime patrol missions.
Boeing is under contract to build and support 53 P-8A aircraft for the US Navy. Current requirements could see the navy extend its fleet to a total of 117 P-8A aircraft as it replaces its existing P-3 fleet.
More from Naval Warfare
-
Taiwan entrusts USVs with task of deterring a PLA amphibious invasion
Drawing lessons from Ukraine’s Black Sea experience, Taiwan is investing heavily in unmanned surface vessels to strengthen its asymmetric defence strategy against potential PLA amphibious assaults.
-
US Coast Guard sets sail in search of robotics and CUAS capabilities
The USCG has been increasing efforts to accelerate the process to develop, procure, deploy and sustain autonomous and counter-uncrewed systems across its fleet.
-
Managing risk in a changing world: how the Royal Navy can win
A fighting force such as the Royal Navy must inevitably focus on its core capabilities, platforms and readiness. But to avoid unexpected outcomes and costly oversights, a complex organisation like this needs to be underpinned by sound enterprise-level risk management principles and systems.