Boeing P-8 Poseidon

Multi-mission Maritime Patrol Reconnaissance and Anti-Submarine Warfare Aircraft [ 2013 ]

The United States Navy has adopted the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to replace its aged fleet of Lockheed P-3 Orion aircraft in the ASW role.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/06/2023 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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The Boeing P-8 "Poseidon" is a militarized form of the Boeing Model 737-800 NG ("Next Generation") airframe and has been developed specifically for the maritime patrol (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance (ISR)) and Anti-Submarine Warfare/Anti-Surface Warfare (ASW) roles. The P-8 was adopted by the United States Navy (USN) as a replacement for the aging line of prop-powered, Lockheed L-88 "Electra"-based P-3C "Orions" in steady service since the 1960s. The initial mark is the P-8A serving Naval Air Systems Command (NASC) and aircraft were contracted through Boeing Integrated Defense Systems (IDS). The P-8 achieved Initial Operational Capabilities (IOC) in November of 2013 while Full Operational Capabilities (FOC) are expected during 2018.

Outwardly, the P-8 retains the form of the original Boeing 737-800 line as it sports a well-contoured, tubular fuselage with low-mounted, swept-back monoplane wings, dihedral tailplanes and a single vertical tail fin. Two turbofan engines are slung under each wing. Various antenna and communication protrusions dot the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the fuselage. The cockpit is held at the extreme forward end of the fuselage aft of a short nose cone housing radar. While many physical facets of the P-8 are equal to that of the commercial Boeing 737, the P-8 is designed with in-flight refueling capabilities for increased loiter times.

The P-8 is outfitted with 2 x CFM International 56-7B series turbofan engines developing 27,300lbs of thrust each. Performance specifications includes an airspeed of 565 miles per hour, a service ceiling up to 41,000 feet and a range of 1,200 nautical miles with the ability to remain some four hours on station. The standard operating crew is nine and includes two pilots and up to seven mission specialists. Dimensions include a running length of 130 feet, a wingspan of 124 feet and a height of 42 feet.

Alongside the P-8's impressive electronics kit, the aircraft is also cleared for military ordnance in the form of torpedoes, cruise missiles, bombs and naval mines through use of internally-held rotary launchers via the weapons bay (five stations). Additionally, the P-8 will be able to deploy sonobuoys as needed and there are also six external weapon stations for munitions and mission pods. As such, the aircraft is the very definition of a full-service, "multi-mission" performer, capable of providing its own scanning, tracking, identification and engagement capabilities in one complete battlefield package. Integration for the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) and Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has also been added to further increase the aircraft's tactical value. A Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) is installed in the aft portion of the fuselage with an INMARSAT antenna system integrated into the extreme tip of the vertical tail fin. The onboard surface search radar is a Raytheon APY-10 series installation.

As of May 2014, the United States Navy has 13 P-8 aircraft in inventory. The line is in Full Rate Production (FRP) with the intended inventory total of 117 aircraft. The Indian Navy has placed an order for eight aircraft (with a total of 30 possible) as the P-8I "Neptune" while the Australian Navy has officially committed to the product. The initial Indian model arrived on May 15th, 2013. Other foreign interest has been shown by Canada, Italy and Norway.

United States Navy P-8 aircraft have been used in the recent extensive over-sea searches for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370.©MilitaryFactory.com

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December 2015 - It was announced that the British will employ a fleet of P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) role once filled by since-retired Nimrod AEW3 and MRA4 aircraft. Nine P-8As are on order.

July 2016 - At Farnborough 2016, the UK MoD officially committed to the purchase of nine Boeing P-8 aircraft. These will be used ion conjunction with the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers soon to come online as well as the existing nuclear submarine fleet. First delivery of two aircraft is expected in 2019. The final examples will arrive in 2021.

August 2016 - It was announced that India will purchase an additional four P-8I aircraft.

November 2016 - Norway has announced plans to purchase five new-build P-8 Poseidon aircraft. These will succeed an aging fleet of Lockheed P-3 and Diamond DA-20 aircraft. Norway joins India and the United Kingdom in committing to the aircraft.

November 2016 - The P-8A began operational service with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). Planned Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is set for sometime in 2018 with fifteen of the aircraft planned for procurement. These will be operated alongside Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton UAVs and a pair of special-mission Gulfstream G550 aircraft. The combined fleet is set to replace nineteen Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion platforms.

December 2016 - The Norwegian order for five P-8 aircraft was approved by the United States government.

March 2017 - Current P-8 strength for the United States Navy stands at 52 aircraft. The USN has announced a procurement objective of 117 total P-8 platforms. Six additional aircraft were added by the new Trump Administration budget.

March 2017 - Norway has officially signed a deal for five P-8 aircraft. These will be used to replace the current fleet of six Lockehed P-3 Orion platforms as well as three Dassault Falcon 20 series aircraft.

April 2017 - Boeing has, on order, seventeen P-8A series aircraft to date.

April 2017 - New Zealand is actively searching for a replacement for its aging P-3 Orion fleet. The U.S. State Department has cleared the way for the country to purchase up to four P-8 Poseidon aircraft.

March 2018 - The P-8A has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC) with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), some five months ahead of a stated program goal for the service.

June 2018 - South Korea has announced its intention to procure six P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for it Navy service with the possibility of growing this fleet in the near-future. The deal may be worth around $1.8 billion USD.

September 2018 - The United States government has approved a $2.1 billion deal with South Korea that includes six P-8A maritime patrollers as well as Patriot missile batteries. The U.S. State Department has since cleared the deal to go forward.

January 2019 - A total of 98 P-8A and 8 P-8I models have been produced by Boeing to date.

February 2019 - Boeing has netted a $2.5 billion USD deal for nineteen P-8 maritime patrollers by way of a Foreign Military Sale. Ten examples to go to the United States Navy, five to Norway, and four to the United Kingdom.

July 2019 - A Poseidon MRA.1, destined for the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force, completed its first flight on July 12th, 2019. Initial Operating Capability (IOC) is expected for sometime in 2020.

February 2020 - The first Royal Air Force P-8A arrived at Kinloss Base in Scotland on February 4th, 2020.

March 2020 - A second P-8A airframe has been received by the British Royal Air Force (to serve as the "MRA Mk.1").

March 2020 - Boeing has netted a $1.5 billion USD contract to cover construction and delivery of 18 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft units to the United States Navy as well as the nations of South Korea and New Zealand.

April 2020 - U.S. authorities have cleared a deal for Harpoon anti-ship missiles and torpedoes to be sold to India and used on its fleet of P-8I aircraft.

January 2021 - Australia has announced its intention to procure an additional pair of P-8A platforms to bring its total operating fleet to fourteen aircraft.

March 2021 - Germany has been approved by the American government for the purchase of five P-8A maritime patrol platforms.

April 2021 - The United States Navy and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) have ordered an additional eleven P-8A maritime patrol platforms between them.

July 2021 - Germany has officially signed to procure five examples of the P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA).

January 2022 - The RAF was handed its ninth, and final, P-8A maritime patrol aircraft (MRA.1) after arriving in-country on January 11th, 2022.

Specifications

Boeing Integrated Defense Systems - USA
Manufacturer(s)

Australia; India; New Zealand; Norway; South Korea; United Kingdom; United States
Operators

2013
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Active, Limited
Project Status

9
Crew

106
Units

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SHIP
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

RADAR-CAPABLE
Houses, or can house (through specialized variants), radar equipment for searching, tracking, and engagement of enemy elements.

COUNTERMEASURES
Survivability enhanced by way of onboard electronic or physical countermeasures enacted by the aircraft or pilot/crew.

MULTI-ENGINE
Incorporates two or more engines, enhancing survivability and / or performance.

WINGLETS
Mainplanes capped with winglets, providing improved fuel efficiency and enhanced handling.

HIGH-ALTITUDE PERFORMANCE
Can reach and operate at higher altitudes than average aircraft of its time.

EXTENDED RANGE PERFORMANCE
Capability to travel considerable distances through onboard fuel stores.

MARITIME OPERATION
Ability to operate over ocean in addition to surviving the special rigors of the maritime environment.

CREWSPACE PRESSURIZATION
Supports pressurization required at higher operating altitudes for crew survival.

CREW-MANAGED
Beyond a pilot, the aircraft takes advantage of additional crew specialized in specific functions aboard the aircraft.

ENCLOSED CREWSPACE(S)
Features partially- or wholly-enclosed crew workspaces.

RETRACTABLE UNDERCARRIAGE
Features retracting / retractable undercarriage to preserve aerodynamic efficiency.

TORPEDO ARMAMENT
Ability to launch / release torpedoes against ocean-going threats / targets.

MINE DISPENSING
Ability to launch or dispense naval mines as a deterrence measure.

129.5 ft
(39.47 meters)
Length

123.5 ft
(37.64 meters)
Width/Span

42.1 ft
(12.83 meters)
Height

138,296 lb
(62,730 kilograms)
Empty Weight

189,201 lb
(85,820 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+50,905 lb
(+23,090 kg)
Weight Difference

monoplane / low-mounted / swept-back
Mainplane Arrangement

Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represents the most popular modern mainplane arrangement.

Low-Mounted
Mainplanes are low-mounted along the sides of the fuselage.

Swept-Back
The planform features wing sweep back along the leading edges of the mainplane, promoting higher operating speeds.

2 x CFM International CFM56-7B engines developing 27,000lb of thrust each.
Propulsion

490 mph
(789 kph | 426 knots)
Max Speed

41,010 ft
(12,500 m | 8 miles)
Ceiling

1,381 miles
(2,222 km | 1,200 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

Mission-specific, largely for the anti-ship, anti-submarine maritime patrol role. Will include torpedoes, naval mines, depth charges and air-to-surface/anti-ship missiles. SLAM-ER stand-off cruise missile support also noted.

4
Hardpoints

P-8 "Poseidon" - Base Series Designation.

Boeing 737-800 - Civilian Airframe on which the P-8 is being developed from.

P-8A - Initial Production Model Series Designation; US Navy.

P-8I "Neptune" - Export derivative for Indian Navy.

P-8 AGS - Proposed Airborne Ground Surveillance variant.

MRA Mk.1 - British Royal Air Force designation.

Cockpit image of the Boeing P-8 Poseidon

Cockpit image represents the Boeing P-8 Poseidon production model.

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