Overview
The P-8A Poseidon is a long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. It possesses an advanced mission system for maximum interoperability in battle space. Capable of broad-area, maritime, and littoral operations, the P-8A is expected to influence how the U.S. Navy's maritime patrol and reconnaissance forces train, operate, and deploy.
Power
A next-generation derivative of the 737-800, the P-8A is powered by the CFM56-7 engine, which also powers the Boeing 737 Airborne Early Warning & Control aircraft and C-40 transport.
- 27,300 pounds of takeoff thrust per engine
- 30 million flight hours, with an industry-leading 0.002 percent in-flight shut-down rate per 1,000 flight hours
Production Team and Assignments
The P-8A is being developed for the U.S. Navy by a Boeing-led team.
- Boeing provides airframe modifications and fuselage production, development and integration of software and onboard mission systems, and training systems development.
- Fuselage built in Wichita, Kansas
- P-8A production assembly in Renton, Washington
- Quality and performance acceptance flight testing, Renton Field
- Final installations and checkout, Boeing Field
- Flight testing at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland
- CFM International (a 50/50 joint company comprising Snecma Moteurs and General Electric Company) supplies the CFM56-7 engine.
- Northrop Grumman provides the electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensor, the directional infrared countermeasures system, the electronic support measures system, data link development, and mission-planning support.
- Raytheon provides the upgraded APS-137 maritime surveillance radar and signals intelligence (SIGINT) solution; a GPS anti-jam, integrated friend or foe, and towed decoy self-protection suite; a broadcast info system (BIS); and secure UHF satcom capability.
- GE Aviation supplies flight-management and stores-management systems.
- Spirit AeroSystems builds the 737 aircraft's fuselage and airframe tail sections and struts.
History and Schedule
The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8A to replace its fleet of P-3 aircraft.
- Component advanced development (CAD) award, September 2002
- System development and demonstration (SDD) award, June 2004
- Systems requirements review, September 2004
- Preliminary design review, September 2005
- Flight-test delivery of first aircraft, 2009
- Initial operational capability and expected full-production decision, 2013
For more information, read the P-8A overview (pdf).
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