P-8A Poseidon milestone reached

Gary Parsons

US Navy image

13 August 2010

The US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon programme reached ‘Milestone C’ on August 11.

August 13: The US Navy’s P-8A Poseidon programme reached ‘Milestone C’ on August 11, enabling low-rate production to begin. Initial Operating Capability for the fleet is planned for 2013, with Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville in Florida hosting the first operational squadron.

“The team has worked extremely hard to reach this major acquisition milestone,” said PMA-290 Programme Manager Captain Mike Moran. “The aircraft is performing very well in testing, which should result in an on-time and on-budget delivery to the US Navy.”

The total Navy buy is expected to amount to at least 108 aircraft. Ten aircraft have been ordered this year with 12 in 2011 and 14 in 2012. The first test aircraft arrived at NAS Patuxent River in Maryland on April 10, where it is undergoing trials with VX-20 under the auspices of the Boeing-led Integrated Test Team (ITT).

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