A Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft undergo system integration and check-out at the company’s Puget Sound facility near Seattle. Photo: IHS/Gareth Jennings.
The US Navy (USN) has actually granted Boeing a USD2.4 billion agreement to begin full-rate manufacturing of the P-8A Poseidon maritime multimission aircraft, the firm announced on 25 February.
The deal covers 16 plane, and raises to 53 the total number now under deal. The USN has a designer of document of 117 P-8As to replace its ageing Lockheed Martin P-3 Orion fleet, 13 of which have actually so far been delivered.
Poseidon enters into full-rate production
The award of Full-Rate Production Lot 1 for the P-8A adheres to on the back of four low-rate preliminary manufacturing (LRIP) deals for six, seven, 11, and 13 airplanes. Deliveries started in 2012 with two operational examinations and five LRIP planes being turned over to the USN. In 2013, Boeing created and supplied 8 airplane to the USN and 3 to the Indian Naval force (the Indian aircraft, designated the P-8I Neptune, has a slightly various configuration).
Talking throughout a media tour of the company’s P-8 production facility in Seattle in June of last year, Rick Heerdt, vice-president P-8 Program at Boeing, pointed out that 2013 was a year of shift from development to manufacturing for the P-8. Full-rate manufacturing will certainly view the company create 16 airplane per year bent on 2019.
With the USN aiming to get 117 airplane, India is under contract for 8, with the option for 4 more. Australia likewise recently accepted financing for 8 airplane, once more with an alternative for four more. Talking ahead of the Singapore Air program on 10 February, Chris Raymond, vice-president of business development and method at Boeing Defense Space and Protection, pointed out the firm finds themselves in “considerable” discussions with approximately five extra prospective customers. While he declined to call names, Canada, Italy, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the UK, have actually all been mentioned with regard to possible future P-8 sales.
With a workers of 9 (featuring 5 goal system drivers), the P-8 has an operating range of greater than 2,000 km with a four-hour on-station stamina. Stemmed from the Boeing 737-800 industrial aircraft (however with 737-900 wings), the Poseidon has been created by a Boeing-led industry team that consists of CFM International, GE Air travel, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, and Spirit Aero Equipments.
