Royal Australian Air Force Flight (RAAF) Lieutenant James Pears became the first Australian pilot to fly the Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime p...
Led by Squadron Leader Arran Moore, Australia has a team of seven aircrew training on the P-8A Poseidon with the US Navy, ahead of its introduction into the RAAF fleet.
The P-8A Poseidon aircraft will dramatically boost Australia’s ability to monitor its maritime approaches and patrol Australia’s vast maritime jurisdiction and search and rescue area — an area that equates to nearly 11 per cent of the world’s oceans.
A potent and versatile aircraft based on Boeing’s 737 Next Generation airframe, the state-of-the-art P-8A Poseidon can conduct search and rescue, anti-submarine and maritime strike missions, in addition to patrolling Australia’s extensive maritime approaches.
The P-8A Poseidon will replace the RAAF’s aging AP-3C Orions that have served Australia so well for over four decades.
The RAAF is set to receive eight P-8A Poseidon aircraft, with the first to be delivered in 2017 to RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia, with all eight fully operational by 2021.
The Government will consider options for further P-8A Poseidon aircraft, subject to the outcomes of the next Defence White Paper.
Currently the P-8 Poseidon is operated by US and Indian Navies.
