Boeing announced on Thursday that it is offering its P-8A Poseidon to Canada, which is currently seeking a new long-range maritime patrol aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
As a candidate for the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) project, the P-8A Poseidon would replace Canada’s fleet of CP-140 Auroras, strengthening the country’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
According to the company, the P-8A Poseidon has already demonstrated its capabilities as a multi-mission aircraft and complete solution for Canada’s CMMA requirements.
Boeing International Business Development director Tim Flood claims that its range, speed, and endurance are ideal for monitoring the nation’s maritime territories.
“The P-8 will ensure allied interoperability to meet Canada’s security commitments,” Flood stated in a press release. “Coupled with a robust industrial partnership plan, Boeing’s offer will build on its successful record of contributing to Canada’s economic growth throughout the life of the CMMA program.”
P-8A Poseidon
The P-8A Poseidon aircraft is equipped with a highly reliable airframe, high-bypass turbofan jet engine, and a state-of-the-art open architecture mission system.
It features active multi-static and passive acoustic sensor systems, inverse synthetic aperture radar, electronic support measures, an electro-optical sensor, and a digital magnetic anomaly detector.
The aircraft has a top speed of 490 knots (907 kilometers per hour) and a maximum range of 1,200 nautical miles (2,222 kilometers).
Boeing highlighted the P-8A’s multi-mission capabilities due to its “secure, interoperable, and net-ready” systems that will provide Canada with the ability to engage and fully integrate with other aerial assets.
The P-8A also shares extensive commonalities with the 737NG Canada currently uses, reducing the cost of training aircrews and acquiring spare parts.
Previous Marketing Attempts
Boeing’s intention to sell the P-8A Poseidon to Canada comes after previous unsuccessful bids on its military aviation programs.
In November 2021, Canada rejected Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet bid for the multibillion-dollar Future Fighter Capability Project (FFCP).
The aircraft allegedly did not meet standards set by the Canadian Department of National Defence for the FFCP.