US and Australian Navy will buy 20 P-8A Poseidon Maritime Surveillance Aircraft
February 3, 2016
The US Department of Defense announced on Thursday that Boeing has won a $2.4 billion contract to build 20 Lot III full-rate production P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft for the US Navy and the Government of Australia. The Defense Department said 20 of the long-range aircraft would be bought by the US Navy, and the other four by the armed forces of Australia, according to the announcement.The P-8A Poseidon, based on Boeing’s 737 airliner design, is a twin-engine aircraft designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. The aircraft also conducts intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, and is capable of broad-area maritime and littoral operations.