News Review: 1st P-8A Poseidon arrives at NAS Patuxent River | ADM Jun 2010

1 June 2010

The first P-8A Poseidon test aircraft has arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River to continue a US Navy flight test program which began last year in Seattle.

The joint Navy/Boeing Integrated Test Team (ITT) spent the past six months executing ground and flight tests while maximising the expertise of Boeing P-8A engineers and technicians.

Captain Mike Moran, Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program manager (PMA-290), said that the program continues to meet all performance criteria and is on track for initial operational capability in 2013.

The Poseidon ITT, comprised of Navy test squadrons (VX-20 and VX-1), and Boeing, will use the aircraft to evaluate the P-8A's airworthiness and expand its flight envelope.

The program's other two flight test aircraft, T2 and T3, will transfer to Patuxent River later this year.

These aircraft will focus on mission systems and weapons system testing, ensuring the P-8A's ability to carry out the anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations.

The Poseidon will replace the P-3C Orion as the Navy's premier maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft; it will also replace the RAAF's AP-3C Orions from 2018.

Its advanced mission systems, software and communications technology will allow operators to carry out the same missions as the Orion, but with greater situational awareness.