US DoD contracts for second batch of RAAF P-8A Poseidons

The US DoD has contracted for the second batch of RAAF P-8As.

The US Department of Defense has awarded Boeing a US$2.469 billion contract for 20 P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft, covering 16 aircraft for the US Navy and four for the RAAF.

The Lot III P-8A full rate production contract was announced on the US Department of Defense’s contracts website on January 28 and states the “contract combines purchase for the Navy ($2,052,571,034; 83 per cent); and the Government of Australia ($417,011,961; 17 per cent), under a cooperative agreement”.

Acquisition and production of the first four RAAF P-8As was covered by a Lot II full rate production contract awarded in August 2015.

The first P-8As for the RAAF are now in production, with the first aircraft due to roll out later this year and be delivered to Australia in early 2017. All eight are expected in service by 2021.

The Australian government announced approval of the RAAF’s acquisition of eight P-8As with options on a further four in February 2014. The extra P-8As for the RAAF are being considered as part of the forthcoming Defence White Paper, expected for release in coming months.

Comments (3)

Wombat

January 30, 2016 at 7:45 am

another impressive step forward in transitioning our great Air Force into the best small Air Force in the world, a long time objective of the past and current chiefs. Lets hope the appropriate workforce investments are also made as has not been the case with the KC30A and C17A fleet expansions

Dan

January 30, 2016 at 5:00 pm

Well written Wombat, I also hope they come good with the extra 4 aircraft options post the soon to be released Defence White Paper

GBRGB

January 30, 2016 at 8:09 pm

And let’s hope they don’t go cheap on the RAAF base upgrades either, with pressure on the budget I am sure their will be calls to save money or push the programs back.

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