Norway will become the fifth nation to operate the Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft after U.S. government cleared the deal on Dec. 20.
Norway will become the fifth nation to operate the Boeing P-8 maritime patrol aircraft after U.S. government cleared the deal on Dec. 20.
U.S. State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of five P-8A aircraft and associated support estimated at $1.75 billion to the country.
The five P-8A Poseidon will be delivered from 2021 to 2022, and will replace the six ageing P-3 Orions and three Diamond DA-20 Jet Falcons operated by Norway in maritime patrol role.
Based on the Boeing's commercial 737 airliner platform, the P-8 can conduct long range anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), and shipping interdiction, along with an electronic signals intelligence (ELINT) missions.
Weapons include internal bay housed torpedoes, depth charges and wing mounted Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Currently the P-8 is operated by United States, Indian and Australian Navies. United Kingdom has ordered 9 of the type in July 2016 to fill a critical capability gap arised after canceling the Nimrod R4 program in 2010.
The P-8 can fly up to 41,000 feet high and travel at speeds of up to 490 knots. It is engineered for 25 years/25,000 hours in the harshest maritime flight regimes, including extended operations in icing environments.
The P-8 can fly in all flight regimes, and can self-deploy up to 4,500 miles from base without refueling. On board sensors include electro-optical and infrared sensor turret, maritime surveillance radar, signal intelligence system.
It is equipped with Raytheon's AN/APY-10 maritime, littoral and overland surveillance radar, Northrop Grumman's Electronic Support Measures (ESM) system and Early Warning Self Protection (EWSP). The ESM will allow P-8A aircrews to detect and identify radar and other electronic threats to the aircraft and Navy vessels.
Dual CFM-56B commercial engines each provide 27,000 pounds of thrust, greatly enhancing climb and flight characteristics over turboprop equipped aircraft.
Each engine is equipped with a 180 KVA alternator to meet the high power requirements of onboard surveillance sensors.
