American aerospace firm Boeing has delivered its 150th P-8A maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft in total — this one to the US Navy.
According to the company, the recently delivered military asset is the 112th P-8A aircraft manufactured for the US Navy.
Australia and India each operate 12 Poseidons, while the UK and Norway have nine and five, respectively.
The 150th Poseidon aircraft will be operated by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One based in Maryland.
“There are now 150 P-8s around the world delivering confidence and an unmatched capability to our global customers,” Boeing P-8A program manager Stu Voboril said. “Our focus has been, and will be, on delivering the world’s best maritime patrol aircraft.”
The Virginia-based company vows to continue providing state-of-the-art capabilities to global P-8A customers by performing system enhancements and integrating new technologies.
1️⃣5️⃣0️⃣🛫
There goes the 150th-built #P8! Today's takeoff marks the 112th Poseidon delivered to the @USNavy. Logging over 450,000 flight hours, the global P-8 fleet includes 12 aircraft delivered to 🇦🇺, 12 to 🇮🇳, 9 to 🇬🇧 and 5 to 🇳🇴.
Release: https://t.co/kAWNyZbxhh pic.twitter.com/olAaVzFVzr
— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) July 7, 2022
The P-8A Poseidon
The P-8A Poseidon is designed to support anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and search and rescue.
It can fly at up to 41,000 feet (12.5 kilometers) at a maximum speed of 490 knots (907 kilometers/564 miles per hour).
The aircraft features a synthetic aperture radar, electro-optical infrared sensor turret, and increased acoustic capability.
It is also fitted with torpedoes and cruise missiles to support combat operations.
Boeing said it would deliver the aircraft to New Zealand, Korea, and Germany beginning this year.
“The P-8 is engineered for 25 years/25,000 hours in the harshest maritime flight regimes, including extended operations in icing environments,” the company states on its website.
