via NAVAIR...
NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. - The U.S. Navy announced today the award of a $1.6 billion contract to Boeing for P-8A Poseidon aircraft Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of six aircraft.Wow.
This first LRIP contract also includes spares, logistics and training devices. Production of the first LRIP aircraft will begin this summer at Boeing’s Renton, Wash. facility.
“In 2004, the U.S. Navy and the Boeing Company made a commitment to deliver the next generation maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to support a 2013 Initial Operational Capability (IOC),” said Capt. Mike Moran, PMA 290 Program Manager. “This contract and these aircraft keep that commitment on track.”
Three of the six flight test aircraft, built as part of the System Development and Demonstration contract awarded to Boeing in 2004, are in various stages of testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Integrated Test Team has conducted sonobuoy releases and counter measures deployments.
Recently, one of two static test planes completed full scale testing on the P-8A airframe. The first static test aircraft underwent 154 different tests with no failure of the primary structure. The second aircraft will begin fatigue testing this year.
The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 117 production P-8A aircraft to replace its P-3 Fleet. IOC is planned for 2013 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.
Want to talk about a program that was designed to replace a cold war relic?
Want to talk about a program that was filled with the possibility of failure and delay?
Want to talk about a program that seems to have not only survived, not only thrived but also is being welcomed by the Fleet?
Then you want to talk about the P-8A.
well from living in seattle i can guarantee to you that alot of people who will be building the thing are having a sigh of relief their jobs are safe for the time being but this is definately a good aircraft, seems to have been built well, on budget and on time, good to go boeing.
ReplyDeleteI am guessing that after scrapping the Nimrod MRA4,this so called government of ours will let all the furore die down and then what?
ReplyDeleteO'h of course,it appears we need a maritime patrol aircraft so wouldn't it be a smashing idea to buy some P-8A's.
So in a couple of years Boeing can expect a phone call from the UK MOD.