Boeing
on March 4 officially delivered the first production P-8A Poseidon aircraft
to the U.S. Navy in Seattle. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine
warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
aircraft Boeing will deliver as part of a low-rate initial production
(LRIP) contract awarded in 2011.
“Delivering this capability to the warfighter is the ultimate
goal and we’re proud to be able to meet our commitment and hand
over the P-8A ‘keys’ to the Navy fleet,” said Chuck
Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager. “This
is a great day for Boeing, our supplier teammates and our Navy customer.”
“The Navy fleet is more than ready to receive the P-8A,
which will provide the users and operators a step increase in mission
capabilities,” said Rear Admiral Paul Grosklags, U.S. Navy Program
Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special
Mission Programs. “Thanks to Boeing and the entire team for its
efforts and great partnership to date.”
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Following delivery in Seattle, Navy pilots flew the first production
P-8A, LRIP1-1, to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., where it will
be used for aircrew training.
The Poseidon team is using a first-in-industry in-line production
process that draws on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737 production
system. All P-8A-unique aircraft modifications are made in sequence
during fabrication and assembly.
Along with production aircraft, the P-8A team also has built and is
testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft. The flight-test
aircraft are based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., and have
completed more than 1,500 flight hours.
A derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, the Poseidon is built
by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop
Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.
The Navy plans to purchase 117 Boeing 737-based P-8A aircraft to replace
its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.
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