P-8 Poseidon

infobox Aircraft
name = P-8 Poseidon
type = ASW/ASuW
manufacturer = Boeing Integrated Defense Systems



caption = Illustration of the P-8A Poseidon, showing the raked wingtip
designer =
first flight = 2009 (projected)
introduced = 2012 (projected)
retired =
status =
primary user = United States Navy
more users =
produced =
number built =
unit cost =
developed from = Boeing 737
variants with their own articles =

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon (formerly the Multimission Maritime Aircraft or MMA) is a military aircraft currently being developed for the United States Navy. It is intended to conduct anti-submarine warfare, shipping interdiction, and to engage in an electronic intelligence (ELINT) role. This will involve carrying torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-shipping missiles, and other weapons. It will also be able to drop and monitor sonobuoys. It is designed to operate in conjunction with the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle. The P-8 is to be built by Boeing's Integrated Defense Systems division from the 737-800.

Development

The P-8's predecessor, the Lockheed P-3 Orion ASW aircraft has been in service with the U.S. Navy since 1961. In the mid-1980s the Navy began studies for a replacement aircraft for the P-3 which has lost range/time on station capabilities due to increasing weight and is approaching the end of its fatigue life. The Navy specification also required reduced operating and support costs. In 1989 the Navy awarded a fixed-price contract to Lockheed to design and build two prototype aircraft, to be designated the P-7. This project was canceled in 1990 following a $300 million cost overrun by Lockheed and resulting delays.

Boeing and Lockheed Martin were part of a new competition for a replacement aircraft begun in 2000. Lockheed submitted the Orion 21, an updated, new-build version of the P-3 turboprop, while Boeing submitted a proposal centered around their 737-800ERX airliner. BAE Systems offered a new-build version of the Nimrod, the UK's jet-powered maritime patrol aircraft, in service since 1969. However, BAE withdrew from the competition in October 2002, recognizing the political reality that the failure to find a US-based production partner made the bid unrealistic. [cite news | first = Paul | last = Lewis | title = BAE pulls out of MMA competition; Lack of US partner prompts Nimrod MRA4 withdrawal | work = Flight International
publisher = Reed Business Information UK | page = 5 | date = 2002-10-08 | accessdate = 2006-12-06]

On June 14, 2004, Boeing won the competition." [http://www.boeing.com/news/releases/2004/q2/nr_040614n.html Boeing Team Wins $3.89 Billion Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft Program] ," Boeing press release.] Initial operating capability is expected to be 2013. The project is expected to be for at least 108 airframes for the U.S. Navy alone, and perhaps more to other nations operating over 200 P-3s. Project value is expected to be worth at least $15 billion, or as much as $45 billion. Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Spirit AeroSystems, GE Aviation Systems, Marshall Aerospace, CFMI, BAE Systems, and Marotta are major subcontractors. [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/p8a/news/2007/q4/071212c_nr.html]

The U.S. Navy placed an order for five MMA aircraft on July 8, 2004. The first flight test aircraft is scheduled for delivery in 2009. The first aircraft will be a test aircraft, and will be converted to production standards at a later date.

In U.S. service the Poseidon will be complemented by the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance UAV system, which will provide continuous surveillance. The system is expected to enter service around 2010. Around 40 UAVs will be used in the program. As of 2005, the Global Hawk, the Mariner and Predator UAVs are being considered for the role. [cite web | last = Burgess | first = Richard R. | month = May | year = 2005 | url = http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/.www/rhumblines/rhumblines692.doc | title = UAV Tests Its Sea Legs: The Global Hawk Has Performed Well On Missions Over Land, But Has Not Been Assigned To Long-Range Surveillance Of The World's Oceans | format = DOC | work = Seapower May 2005 | publisher = Navy Office of Information | accessdate = December 19 | accessyear = 2006]

Due to the cancellation of Lockheed Martin's Aerial Common Sensor project, Boeing will propose a signals intelligence variant of the P-8 to service the requirement for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy." [http://www.flightinternational.com/Articles/2006/01/26/Navigation/177/204338/Boeing+unveils+new+737+signals+intelligence+concept.html Boeing unveils new 737 signals intelligence concept] ," "Flight International", January 26, 2006.]

Foreign involvement

The U.S. Department of Defense wants to follow a program template similar to that of the Joint Strike Fighter program, with international cooperation from prospective MMA users.Fact|date=September 2007 This would include many of the fifteen nations that currently use the P-3. The MMA project should avoid one of the major problems of the JSF, that of technology transfer.Fact|date=September 2007 The MMA, while incorporating much high technology, would not include such proprietary and sensitive characteristics as stealth technology. Of all the JSF partners only the UK is enjoying significant technology transfer, and even this is limited.Fact|date=September 2007

The Australian Minister for Defence announced on 20 July 2007 that the P-8A MMA had been selected as the preferred aircraft to replace the Royal Australian Air Force's fleet of AP-3C Orions in conjunction with a yet-to-be-selected unmanned aerial vehicle. The last RAAF AP-3C is scheduled to be retired in 2018, after nearly 30 years of service. [cite press release |title=First Pass Approval for Orion Replacement |publisher=The Hon. Dr Brendan Nelson, Minister for Defence |date=2007-07-20 |url=http://www.minister.defence.gov.au/NelsonMintpl.cfm?CurrentId=6875 |format= |language= |accessdate=2007-09-16 |quote= ]

Italy has been strongly tipped for a purchase of a total of 14 Wedgetail and MMA aircraft, with fleet support provided by Alitalia."Aviation Week & Space Technology", June 21, 2004.] Canada, Italy and Australia may each pay up to $300 million in order to have first-tier participation in the MMA project. [http://www.aviationnow.com/avnow/news/channel_aerospacedaily_story.jsp?id=news/NAVY11054.xml "U.S. Navy Eyes Three Nations For Possible Role In MMA"] , "Aerospace Daily & Defense Report", November 5, 2004.] This may or may not involve workshare agreements. However, with Boeing Australia already participating in the related Wedgetail development, some level of offset seems likely.Fact|date=September 2007 Boeing has also proposed the P-8A to the Indian Navy (designated P-8I), to replace that service's Il-38 'May' platform. [ [http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_eyes_2b_defence_deal_with_US/articleshow/2738886.cms India eyes $2b defence deal with US] ]

Design

The P-8 is a militarized version of the 737-800. The airframe is a similar but longer than the 737-700-based C-40 Clipper. The P-8 is unique in that it has 767-400ER-style raked wingtips, instead of the blended winglets available on 737NG variants. [ [http://www.flightglobal.com/sectionhome/sectiondefault.aspx?NavigationID=190&CategoryID=10252&SlotID=5 "New MMA wingtips combat icing"] , Flight International, 7 June 2005.] It also includes 6 additional body fuel tanks, three in the forward cargo compartment and three in the rear, for extended range. These are manufactured by Marshall Aerospace in Cambridge, UK.

Variants

;P-8A:Production variant for the United States Navy.;P-8I:Proposed export variant for the Indian Navy

Operators

;USA
* United States Navy - on order

pecifications

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet
ref=US Navy Fact File - P-8A " [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1300&ct=1 P-8A Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft] ," "United States Navy", 25 January2007.] and Boeing P-8A Specifications " [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/p8a/specs.html P-8A Poseidon] ," "Boeing", retrieved 6 July2007.]
crew=Flight:2 Mission:7
capacity=
payload main=
payload alt=
length main=126 ft 6 in
length alt=39.47 m
span main=117 ft 6 in
span alt=35.72 m
height main=42 ft 1 in
height alt=12.83 m
area main=
area alt=
airfoil=
empty weight main=138,300 lb
empty weight alt=62,730 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=188,200 lb
max takeoff weight alt=85,370 kg
more general=
engine (jet)=CFM International
type of jet=CFM56-7B
number of jets=2
thrust main=27,000 lbf
thrust alt=120 kN
thrust original=
afterburning thrust main=
afterburning thrust alt=
engine (prop)=
type of prop=
number of props=
power main=
power alt=
power original=
max speed main= 490 kts
max speed alt= 907 km/h
cruise speed main= 440 kts
cruise speed alt= 815 km/h
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
range main=
range alt=
ceiling main=41,000 ft
ceiling alt=12,500 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight=
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=
armament=Joint missiles, Mines and Torpedoes
avionics=Raytheon APY-10 (APS-137 follow-on) surface search radar and SIGINT package

ee also

aircontent
related=
* Boeing 737
* Boeing 737 AEW&C
* C-40 Clipper
similar aircraft=
* P-3 Orion
* Hawker Siddeley Nimrod
* Kawasaki P-1
sequence=
see also=
lists=
* List of active United States military aircraft

References

External links

* [http://www.navair.navy.mil/mma U.S. Navy official MMA page] and [http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1300&ct=1 P-8 fact file on Navy.mil]
* [http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/military/p8a/index.html P-8 product page on Boeing.com]
* [http://www.news.navy.mil/search/display.asp?story_id=13759 "Boeing to Develop Navy's Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft"] , U.S. Navy news
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/aircraft/mma.htm MMA Page on Globalsecurity.org]
* [http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/aerospace/story/195798.html "Warplane gets its turn in spotlight"] , Tacoma News Tribune