Boeing has been awarded a $13.54 million contract to provide support, engineering, and procurement services for the US Navy’s P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
Awarded by the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), the agreement will focus on Increment Three Block One retrofit modifications, as well as the production of 25 additional retrofit kits for the aircraft.
Work on the multimillion-dollar contract will be carried out in Seattle, Washington. It is expected to conclude by December 2023.
About the P8-A Poseidon
A militarized version of the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon can perform a variety of missions, including anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue.
It can fly up to 41,000 feet (12.4 kilometers) and has a maximum speed of 490 knots (907 kph or 563 mph).
The P-8A is equipped with an active multi-static sensor system, an electronic support measures system, an inverse synthetic aperture radar, and a digital magnetic anomaly detector for improved anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare capabilities.
The aircraft can carry up to nine personnel, including two pilots, five mission crew, a relief pilot, and an in-flight technician. It can also be mounted with high-powered torpedoes, cruise missiles, bombs, and mines.
The P-8A Poseidon has reportedly been chosen as the future maritime patrol aircraft of seven countries, including South Korea and New Zealand.
