Recently, the P-8 Poseidon has been making headlines as Boeing works to secure a deal with the Canadian military.
That’s because the Canadian forces wanted to replace their aging maritime and patrol aircraft, and the government decided early this year that the P-8 was the only suitable aircraft.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at this militarized 737 variant, and its capabilities.
First Flight
On July 2011, the first production aircraft took its initial flight and was delivered to the US Navy on March 4th, 2012.
Specifications
The jet has a fuselage of a 737-800 but sports broader wings. The aircraft is powered by a pair of CFM international CFM56-7G high-bypass turbofan engines.
The P-8
The P-8 is a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft tailored for anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare. Not only can it conduct ISR (intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) operations, but it can also be used for search and rescue.
Deal With the Canadian Military
Beyond 2030, the Canadian government is considering purchasing up to 16 P-8As. On March 27th, the Canadian government announced that the Boeing P-8A Poseidon was the sole aircraft considered to be a suitable candidate for its Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft (CMMA) program.
A Proven System
Boeing proudly labels the aircraft a proven system, citing the fact that it has over 155 planes in service. It also adds that the P-8 has managed to execute more than 500,000 “mishap-free flight hours around the globe.”
What do you think about the P-8 Poseidon?