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US Navy Takes
Possession Of Its First Boeing P-8A Poseidon By Mike Mitchell |
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March 8, 2012 - Boeing officially delivered the first
production P-8A Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy in
Seattle. The P-8A is the first of 13 anti-submarine
warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence,
surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft Boeing will
deliver as part of a low-rate initial production (LRIP)
contract awarded in 2011.
?Delivering this capability to the warfighter is the
ultimate goal and we?re proud to be able to meet our
commitment and hand over the P-8A ?keys? to the Navy
fleet,? said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and
P-8 program manager. ?This is a great day for Boeing,
our supplier teammates and our Navy customer.? |
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?The Navy fleet is more than ready to receive the P-8A, which will provide the users and operators a step increase in mission capabilities. Thanks to Boeing and the entire team for its efforts and great partnership to date? said Rear Admiral Paul Grosklags, U.S. Navy Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare, Assault & Special Mission Programs.
Following
delivery in Seattle, Navy pilots flew the first production P-8A,
LRIP1-1, to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida where it
will be used for aircrew training. The Poseidon team is using a
first in industry inline production process that draws on
Boeing?s Next-Generation 737 production system. All P-8A-unique
aircraft modifications are made in sequence during fabrication
and assembly. The Boeing P-8 Poseidon (formerly the Multimission Maritime Aircraft or MMA) is a military aircraft currently being developed for the United States Navy (USN). The P-8 is being developed by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, modified from the 737-800. It is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW) 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.
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