The Boeing P-8A Poseidon Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft (MMA) capable of defending naval assets and attacking sea-based threats. The P-8A Poseidon is a modified Boeing 737-800ERX. The P-8A’s are equipped to tackle a diverse range of missions in defence, reconnaissance, and search and rescue. The P-8 conducts anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and shipping interdiction, along with an early warning self-protection (EWSP) ability, otherwise known as electronic support measures (ESM).
- Role: Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and maritime patrol aircraft
- National origin: United States
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- First flight: 25 April 2009
- Introduction: November 2013
- Status: In service
- Primary users: United States Navy, Indian Navy
- Produced: 2009 – present
- Developed from: Boeing 737-800ERX
Variants
- P-8A Poseidon – Production variant developed for the U.S. Navy.
- P-8I Neptune – Export variant for the Indian Navy
Operators
- Royal Australian Air Force
- Indian Navy
- Norwegian Air Force
- Royal Air Force
- United States Navy
Specifications (P-8A)
General characteristics
- Crew: Flight: two; Mission: seven
- 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)
- Useful load: 19,800+ lb (9,000+ kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 189,200 lb (85,820 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × CFM56-7B turbofan, 27,000 lbf (120 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 490 knots (907 km/h, 564 mph)
- Cruise speed: 440 kn (815 km/h, 509 mph)
- Combat radius: 1,200 nmi (2,222 km) ; 4 hours on station (for anti-submarine warfare mission)
- Ferry range: 4,500 nautical miles (8,300 km)
- Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,496 m)
Armament
- 5 internal and 6 external stations for AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, AGM-84 Harpoon, Mark 54 torpedo, missiles, mines, torpedoes, bombs, and a High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon system
Avionics
- Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar
- AN/ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures Suite
- (Advanced Airborne Sensor surface search radar and SIGINT package to be follow on system)
Pictures Rob Vogelaar www.zap16.com
