Boeing (www.boeing.com) has received a $2.5 billion order for 20 P-8A Poseidon aircraft to boost the maritime patrol capabilities of the US Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. This latest award puts Boeing ‘on contract’ to build 78 Poseidons for the US Navy and eight for the RAAF (to date, 33 Poseidons have been delivered to the US Navy). The latest order will begin delivery in late 2017.

Based on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A offers the world’s most advanced anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. The Navy
has deployed four P-8A patrol squadrons since operations began in 2013.

Australia’s participation in the P-8A program began in 2009, when the government signed a Memorandum of Understanding to work with the US Navy on system design and development. The first P-8A delivery to the RAAF will be in late 2016.