Boeing P-8 Poseidon

P-8 Poseidon

Picture - A P-8A lands at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland

Role: Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW)
Manufacturer: Boeing Defense, Space & Security
First flight: 25 April 2009
Introduced: 2013 (projected)
Status: Flight testing, initial production
Primary users: United States Navy Indian Navy
Number built: 3
Developed from: Boeing 737

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon (formerly the Multimission Maritime Aircraft or MMA) is a military aircraft currently being developed for the United States Navy. It is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare and shipping interdiction and to engage in an electronic intelligence (ELINT) role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, SLAM-ER anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. The P-8 is being developed by Boeing's Defense, Space, & Security division from the 737-800.

Development

The Lockheed P-3 Orion anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft has been in service with the U.S. Navy since 1961. In the mid-1980s the Navy began studies for a replacement aircraft for the P-3 which had its range/time on station capabilities reduced due to increasing weight and was approaching the end of its airframe fatigue life. The Navy specification also required reduced operating and support costs. In 1989 the Navy awarded a fixed-price contract to Lockheed to design and build two prototype aircraft, to be designated the P-7, but the project was canceled.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin were part of a new competition for a replacement aircraft begun in 2000. Lockheed submitted the Orion 21, an updated, new-build version of the P-3 turboprop. Boeing submitted a proposal centered around their 737-800 airliner. BAE Systems offered a new-build version of the Nimrod MRA4, the newest version of the UK's indigenous jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft. However, BAE withdrew from the competition in October 2002, recognizing the political reality that the failure to find a US-based production partner made the bid unrealistic.

On 14 May 2004, Boeing was selected winner of the competition. The following month the Navy awarded Boeing a development contract for MMA. Initial operating capability is expected to be 2013. The project is expected to be for at least 108 airframes for the U.S. Navy, and perhaps more to other nations operating over 200 P-3s. Project value is expected to be worth at least $15 billion. Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Spirit AeroSystems, GE Aviation Systems, Marshall Aerospace, CFMI, BAE Systems, and Marotta are major subcontractors.

Picture - The U.S. Navy’s newest maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, P-8A Poseidon flies with a P-3 Orion along side, prior to landing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland in 2010.

The U.S. Navy placed an order for five MMA aircraft on 8 July 2004. The first flight test aircraft was scheduled for delivery in 2009. The first aircraft, a test aircraft, is expected to be converted to production standards at a later date. Boeing's MMA aircraft received the P-8A designation on 30 March 2005.

In U.S. service the Poseidon will be complemented by the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV system, which will provide continuous surveillance. The system is expected to enter service around 2010. Around 40 UAVs based on the RQ-4 Global Hawk will be used in the program.

Due to the cancellation of Lockheed Martin's Aerial Common Sensor project, Boeing will propose a signals intelligence variant of the P-8 to service the requirement for the U.S. Navy.

In mid-2008, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) deleted the requirement for the P-8A to be equipped with magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment. This was part of a NAVAIR-directed effort to reduce P-8A aircraft weight by 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) to improve aircraft range and endurance. P-8Is destined for the Indian Navy will continue to retain MAD. The P-8A will use a new Hydro-Carbon Sensor to detect fuel vapors from diesel submarines and other conventionally powered ships.

The P-8's first flight occurred on 25 April 2009. The second and third P-8s have flown and begun flight testing by early August 2010. On 11 August 2010, the US DoD approved the P-8 for low-rate production. A P-8 deployed sonobuoys for the first time on 15 October 2010, dropping six sonobuoys in three separate low altitude passes.

Exports and foreign involvement

The U.S. Department of Defense wants to follow a program template similar to that of the F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program, with international cooperation from prospective MMA users.

The Australian Minister for Defence announced on 20 July 2007 that the P-8A MMA had been selected as the preferred aircraft to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's fleet of AP-3C Orions in conjunction with a yet-to-be-selected unmanned aerial vehicle. The last RAAF AP-3C is scheduled to be retired in 2018, after nearly 30 years of service. An Memorandum of understanding (MOU) will be signed that will help Australia to gain access to classified data and help to input specific requirements. In March 2009, Australia's Chief of Air Force stated that subject to anticipated government approval, the RAAF will begin to add the P-8A to their fleet in 2016. Australia and Canada may each pay up to $300 million in order to have first-tier participation in the MMA project.

Italy indicated interest for a purchase of MMA aircraft, with fleet support provided by Alitalia in 2004. However, in December 2008, Italy announced the purchase of four ATR 72 turboprop aircraft to replace its aging Atlantic Maritime Patrol Aircraft, possibly as a temporary solution because Italy remained interested in the P-8.

In January 2008, Boeing proposed the P-8I, a customized export variant of the P-8A, to the Indian Navy. On 4 January 2009, the Ministry of Defence of India signed an agreement with Boeing for the supply of eight P-8Is at a total cost of US$2.1 billion. These aircraft would replace Indian Navy's aging Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprops. Each aircraft will cost about US$220 million. The deal not only made India the first international customer of the P-8, but also marked Boeing's first military sale to India. On 4 October 2010, India's Defence Acquisition Council of the Ministry of Defence cleared the purchase of four additional P-8Is, which if ordered would increase the acquisition to 12 aircraft.

The Data Link II communications technology for the P-8I was received by Boeing from Bharat Electronics Limited in April 2010. The communications system will enable exchange of tactical data and messages between Indian Navy aircraft, ships and shore establishments. Boeing will install the system during P-8I final assembly. The IFF, system from BEL was also handed over to Boeing for integration with P-8I in December 2010. Deliveries of P-8Is are to begin in 2013.Wallace, James. "Boeing wins first military contract with India". Seattle Post-Intelligencer, 6 January 2009.

Boeing has publicly identified New Zealand as a potential customer, and in a public talk on the 2010 New Zealand Defence Review on 16 December 2010, hosted by the New Zealand Institute of International Affairs, Defence Minister Wayne Mapp referred to the possibility of purchasing four P-8 aircraft.

Design

The P-8 is a militarized version of the 737-800 with 737-900-based wings. The airframe uses a 737-800-based fuselage that is similar to but longer than the 737-700-based C-40 Clipper. The P-8 has a strengthened fuselage and 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on 737NG variants. The five operator stations are mounted against one side without windows. One observer window is on each side of the forward cabin. A short bomb bay for torpedoes and other stores opens behind the wing. It also includes six additional body fuel tanks, three in the forward cargo compartment and three in the rear, for extended range. These are manufactured by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK.

The P-8 features the Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar. The P-8I will feature an international version of the APY-10.

Variants

P-8A - Production variant for the United States Navy.

P-8I - Export variant for the Indian Navy.

Operators

United States

United States Navy

India

Indian Navy has 12 aircraft on order with deliveries beginning in 2013.

Specifications

Data from US Navy P-8A Fact File, and Boeing P-8A Specifications

General characteristics

Crew: Flight: 2; Mission: 7
Length: 129 ft 5 in (39.47 m)
Wingspan: 123 ft 6 in (37.64 m)
Height: 42 ft 1 in (12.83 m)
Empty weight: 138,300 lb (62,730 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 189,200 lb (85,370 kg)
Powerplant: 2x— CFM56-7B turbofan, 27,000 lbf (120 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 490 knots (907 km/h)
Cruise speed: 440 kn (815 km/h)
Range: 1,200 nmi () 4 hours on station
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)

Armament

(5 internal and 6 external) SLAM-ER missiles, Mines and Torpedoes

Avionics

Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar
(Advanced Airborne Sensor surface search radar and SIGINT package to be follow on system)

Related development

Boeing 737
Boeing 737 AEW&C
C-40 Clipper

Comparable aircraft

Lockheed P-3 Orion
BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4
Kawasaki P-1
Airbus A319 MPA/MMA

Boeing P-8 Poseidon Pictures

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Source: WikiPedia