Boeing delivered the 12th production P-8A Poseidon on schedule on Oct.
25, enhancing the long-range maritime patrol capabilities of the U.S.
Navy. The P-8A departed Boeing Field in Seattle for Naval Air Station
Jacksonville, Fla., where it joined the other Poseidon aircraft being
used to train Navy crews. The aircraft is the sixth from the second
low-rate initial production contract lot awarded in November 2011. |
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“This
is our second-to-last P-8A delivery of 2013 and the program is meeting
all cost and schedule milestones,” said Rick Heerdt, Boeing vice
president and P-8 program manager. “As we’ve focused on
ramping up production and delivering planes, the Navy is preparing for
the first P-8A fleet deployment in the coming months.”
Boeing is on contract to build and support 37 P-8A aircraft as part
of four LRIP contracts awarded in 2011, 2012 and 2013. The Navy plans
to purchase 117 P-8As, which are based on the Next-Generation Boeing
737-800 platform. The versatile multi-mission aircraft provides anti-submarine
warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
capabilities and will replace the Navy P-3 fleet. |
