Boeing recently helped expand the U.S. Navy’s maritime patrol capabilities with delivery of the 14th P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
The P-8A, delivered on schedule, is now with its squadron at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. Boeing will deliver seven more of the maritime patrol aircraft this year.
“We’re putting P-8A aircraft through their paces out in the field and appreciate all the reliability, capabilities and improvements the Poseidon brings to the table,” said U.S. Navy Commander Tony Rossi, P-8A deputy program manager. “The next squadron is trained, ready to go and will begin conducting missions in the near future.”
The first P-8A squadron deployed to Kadena, Japan, in December and has been conducting operational missions ever since. The second squadron will deploy this summer.
Based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A provides anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
The Navy plans to purchase the versatile multi-mission aircraft to replace its P-3 Orion fleet. Boeing is currently under contract for 53 P-8As. The most recent delivery is the first from the third low-rate initial production contract awarded in 2012.
[mappress] Press Release, July 03, 2014; Image: Boeing