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A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon | |
Role | Maritime patrol aircraft |
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National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Boeing |
First flight | 25 April 2009 |
Introduction | November 2013 |
Status | In service |
Primary users |
United States Navy
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Produced | 2009–present |
Number built | 178 as of March 2024 |
Developed from | Boeing 737 Next Generation |
The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, and derived from the civilian Boeing 737-800. It was developed for the United States Navy (USN)
The P-8 is to replace the P-3. Initially, it was equipped with legacy systems with later upgrades to incorporate newer technology. The Government Accountability Office credited the incremental approach with keeping the project on schedule and on budget. The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) deleted the requirement for the P-8A to be equipped with magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment as a weight reduction measure, improving endurance. A hydrocarbon sensor detects fuel vapors from diesel-powered submarines and ships.
The P-8's first flight was on 25 April 2009. The second and third P-8s had flown and were in flight testing in early August 2010. On 11 August 2010, low-rate production of the P-8 was approved. A P-8 released sonobuoys for the first time on 15 October 2010, dropping six in three separate low-altitude passes. In 2011, the ice detection system was found to be defective due to the use of counterfeit components; allegedly these parts were poorly refurbished and sold to subcontractor BAE Systems as new by a Chinese supplier.
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In April 2019, Boeing was reported to be in exploratory talks with various NATO allies to offer the P-8 as a NATO-shared interim solution to provide European allies with its capabilities until domestic capabilities could be secured by 2035
In August 2012, it was reported that Boeing saw the United Kingdom as a market for the P-8
The RAF has the service name Poseidon MRA Mk1. They are operated by No. 120 Squadron and No. 201 Squadron