Boeing Secures Contract for Australian P-8A Poseidon Upgrades.

Boeing has secured a contract to enhance the capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Announced on April 15, the contract, worth USD 90.1 million, will involve the installation of advanced software, systems, and sensors under the designation Increment 3 Block 2. These upgrades aim to improve the aircraft's anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, and intelligence collection capabilities.
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Introduced into service in 2013, the P-8A Poseidon has been adopted by several other navies including the Royal Australian Air Force (Picture source: Australian MoD)

The upgrade program is set to begin in September 2026. Currently, the RAAF operates 12 P-8As, with a total of 14 ordered, according to data. "The first two aircraft to undergo the Increment 3 modification will be upgraded in Jacksonville, Florida," Boeing stated. The subsequent upgrades will take place at RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, managed by Boeing Defence Australia.

Two additional P-8As, completing the order of 14, are expected to be delivered to the RAAF in 2024 and 2025. Boeing indicated that these aircraft might not be delivered in the Increment 3 Block 2 configuration, but will likely be included in the "remainder of the fleet of 12" scheduled for upgrades at Edinburgh. "The upgrade contract may be extended beyond its planned 2030 end date to include these two aircraft," the company noted.

According to Naomi Smith, director of sustainment operations at Boeing Defence Australia, the upgrades will require "over 300,000 hours of maintenance work over four years, with each aircraft taking approximately 7.5 months to complete."

This enhancement of the P-8A's capabilities comes as Boeing also announced last month a $3.4 billion contract to produce 14 P-8As for the Royal Canadian Air Force and three additional maritime patrol aircraft for the German Navy, highlighting the growing importance of these aircraft in global maritime operations.

The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is a maritime patrol aircraft developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, based on the company’s next-generation 737-800 commercial airplane. The P-8A is primarily used by the United States Navy to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and shipping interdiction, along with electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) roles.

It is equipped with advanced sensors, including radar and sonar systems, and can carry an array of weapons such as torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and mines. The P-8A is designed to operate in conjunction with other forces, including unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to provide comprehensive surveillance and attack capabilities.

Introduced into service in 2013, the P-8A Poseidon has been adopted by several other navies including the Royal Australian Air Force, the Indian Navy, and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, reflecting its global recognition and versatility in maritime patrol and reconnaissance roles. The aircraft's production continues as it fulfills both U.S. and allied nations’ needs for a modern and reliable maritime patrol capability, replacing older platforms like the P-3 Orion.

Defense News April 2024