Boeing delivers 14th P-8A Poseidon to Navy
NewsJuly 07, 2014
SEATTLE. Boeing delivered the 14th P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy where it becomes part of a squadron based at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla. Boeing officials say seven more of the maritime patrol aircraft will be delivered later this year.
“The next squadron is trained, ready to go and will begin conducting missions in the near future,” says U.S. Navy Commander Tony Rossi, P-8A deputy program manager. The first P-8A squadron was deployed to Kadena, Japan the end of last year and has been conducting operational missions ever since. The second squadron will deploy this summer.
The P-8A, which is based on the Boeing Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane, provides the Navy with anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The Navy plans to have the P-8A replace its P-3 Orion fleet.
Boeing is currently under contract for 53 P-8As. The most recent delivery is the first from the third low-rate initial production contract awarded in 2012. Boeing’s industry team includes CFM International, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, Spirit AeroSystems, and GE Aviation.
