The Boeing P-8A Poseidon in Canadian markings. (Boeing)
The US Navy (USN) has ordered 17 Boeing P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine warfare (ASW) aircraft on behalf of foreign customers, according to the US Department of Defense's (DoD's) 29 February contract announcement. The Royal Canadian Air Force is to receive 14 P-8s, while the remaining three are destined for Germany. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract is worth USD3.4 billion.
Canada and Germany ordered P-8s to replace their respective fleets of P-3 Orions (designated CP-140 Auroras in Canadian service). Germany ordered five P-8s in 2021; with the additional three from this order, the country's P-8 fleet will stand at eight. Canada selected the P-8 in November 2023, with a firm requirement for the 14 ordered and options for two more.
The first German P-8 is scheduled for delivery in 2025 and the first Canadian aircraft in 2026.
The P-8, based on the CFM56-powered 737 Next Generation platform, is today operated by the armed forces of Australia, India, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, the UK, and the US.
The P-8s generally come equipped with the Raytheon AN/APY-10 maritime surveillance radar and L-3 Wescam MX-20HD electro-optic/infrared sensor.
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