Boeing bags $1.9 billion contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft

The US Navy recently awarded Boeing a $1.9 billion contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, which will take the total fleet to 24 and bolster the service’s anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

This third low-rate initial production award follows two last year that totalled 13 aircraft. Boeing has delivered three of the production P-8As, which are based on the company’s next-generation 737-800 commercial airplane, and the navy plans to purchase 117 to replace its P-3 fleet.

“This contract is a stepping stone to fullrate production, and our focus remains on building Poseidon on cost and on schedule,” said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing Vice President and P-8 programme manager.

The Poseidon team uses a first-in-industry in-line production process that draws on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737 production system. All P-8A-unique modifications are made in sequence during fabrication and assembly.

After assembly, the aircraft enter Boeing’s mission system installation and checkout facility for final modifications.

The Boeing-led team also has built and is testing six flight-test and two ground-test aircraft under a Navy System Development and Demonstration contract awarded in 2004. The test aircraft have completed more than 600 sorties and 2,500 flight hours to date.

Boeing’s industry team includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Spirit AeroSystems, BAE Systems and GE Aviation.