King Of The Seas

Boeing P-8 Poseidon

The Boeing P-8A Poseidon looks set to be the manned replacement for the RAAF’s AP-3C Orion maritime reconnaissance and patrol fleet.

First pass approval of Project Air 7000 Phase 2 back in July meant the P-8 was in effect anointed as the manned element of the two pronged replacement strategy for the AP‑3C – following the US Navy’s lead in moving towards the P-8 as the manned P-3 replacement. This would also see Australian defence and industry capabilities brought to bear in a possible cooperative development of the P-8 with the US Navy and Boeing.