Aerospace company Boeing has teamed up with several Canadian industry partners to offer maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) P-8A Poseidon for the Canadian multi-mission aircraft (CMMA) project.
Team Poseidon consists of CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada and Raytheon Canada.
The team builds on 81 Canadian suppliers to the platform and to more than 550 Canadian suppliers across all provinces.
Boeing claims that P-8 Poseidon will improve Canada’s capability to defend its northern and maritime borders while ensuring interoperability with NORAD and NATO allies. The P-8 is designed to reduce the environmental impact of military aircraft and can operate on a 50% blend of sustainable aviation fuel. The company has aspiration to move toward 100% with investment in new technology.
This maritime patrol aircraft is designed to conduct anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare drills, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and search and rescue operations.
Furthermore, it is the only in-service, in-production multi-mission aircraft that meets all CMMA requirements, the company noted.
“By its non-developmental nature, P-8 offers a … solution that will defend and protect Canadian security for future generations. With Canada at the forefront of cleaning and greening, it’s fitting that Team Poseidon is elevating long-term environmental sustainability as an integral part of national defence,” said Sean Liedman , director of International Business Development for Mobility & Surveillance aircraft, Boeing Defense, Space & Security.
To remind, the Canadian multi-mission aircraft (CMMA) project will replace the Royal Canadian Air Force fleet of CP-140 Aurora aircraft and enhance the anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
Current Boeing’s P-8 is being operated by the US Navy , Indian Navy , Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Republic of Korea Navy and Germany Navy .
In March this year, Boeing started the construction of New Zealand’s first P-8A maritime patrol aircraft.