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Naval Forces News - USA |
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U.S. Navy's P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft passes Initial Operational
Test and Evaluation |
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After an extensive testing period, the U.S. Navy announced July 1 in
an Initial Operational Test and Evaluation report that its new patrol
and reconnaissance aircraft, P-8A Poseidon, was found “operationally
effective, operationally suitable, and ready for fleet introduction.” |
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A P-8A Poseidon conducts a weapons test with the Harpoon. After
an extensive testing period, the P-8A program passes Initial Operational
Test and Evaluation and is found “operationally effective, operationally
suitable, and ready for fleet introduction.” (U.S. Navy photo)
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“This milestone and accomplishment is possible
due to the great team of individuals who worked diligently and meticulously
in making this aircraft the best choice to replace the Navy’s
current workhorse, the P-3C Orion,” said Capt. Scott Dillon, Maritime
Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office (PMA-290) program
manager. “It is a great day for the Navy and the fleet. We are
proud to add the P-8 to the Navy’s weapons inventory and the deployment
cycle later this year.”
This announcement of completing IOT&E follows another major program
milestone last month, the successful firing of the Harpoon from the
P-8A, which resulted in a successful target strike.
“On June 24, completing just one practice run at the Point Mugu
Sea Test Range, a P-8A Poseidon from Pax River achieved a program milestone
after six minutes of flight time,” Dillon said. “The P-8A
successfully launched a Harpoon AGM-84D Block IC missile on the first
hot run scoring a direct hit run on a Low Cost Modular Target. This
flight test, along with past tests, demonstrates the P-8’s operational
effectiveness and overall mission capabilities.”
The successful completion of the initial operational testing period
was a key milestone that will inform the full-rate production decision.
With the program passing IOT&E, the P-8A program continues to be
on track for an initial operational deployment this winter when the
first P-8A squadron will deploy with P-3 and EP-3 squadrons.
To date, nine low rate initial production aircraft have been delivered
to the fleet and six test aircraft have been delivered to NAVAIR. According
to the program of record, the Navy plans on purchasing 117 P-8As aircraft.
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