Fourth RAAF P-8A delivered

Afourth Boeing P- 8A has been delivered to Australia, the Poseidon arriving at its RAAF Base on 7 August. The RAAF has ordered 12 Poseidons to date, the most recent contract being for four aircraft on 30 March. These are the first four of a planned seven additional aircraft, acquisition of which was announced in a Defence White Paper on 26 February 2016. An order for the remaining three, to bring the total to 15, has yet to be placed.

Meanwhile, delivery of the seventh RAAF C-27J was completed on 19 September when it arrived at RAAF Base Richmond, New South Wales. The Spartan is part of an eventual RAAF fleet of ten that will be operated by No. 35 Squadron. The tenth and final RAAF C-27J is also now flying, having taken its maiden flight from the factory at Turin Caselle in Italy on 29 August.