Boeing P-8 Poseidon

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American twin-engined maritime patrol aircraft based on the B737-800ERX. Developed for the US Navy as a replacement for the aging Lockheed P-3 Orion it first flew on April 25, 2009, entering service in November 2013 with VP-16 “War Eagles”, USN. The Poseidon is in service with several countries.

The P-8 is equipped for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASUW), shipping interdiction and has an early warning self-protection (EWSP) capability, It can operate in conjunction with the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton, an uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV), in the Broad Area Maritime Surveillance system (BAMS). Due to its high operational altitude, the Poseidon lacks a magnetic anomaly detector (MAD).

The P-8 is a 737-800ERX with 737-900-based wings with raked wingtips and strengthened fuselage for low-altitude operations, an internal weapons bay and external weapon hardpoints. Equipped with advanced sensors and mission systems, multi-role radar, high definition cameras, and an acoustic system. Its nine-person crew includes two pilots plus relief pilot, five mission crew and in-flight technician. The P-8A has workstations with universal multi-function displays.

The P-8 uses two CFM56 high-bypass turbofan engines; pylon mounted one under each wing. Giving the aircraft a maximum speed of 907 km/h (564 mph), a combat range of 2,222 km (1,389 mi) with 4 hours on station and a service ceiling of 12,496 m (41,000 ft).

Armed with eleven weapon stations, two under each wing, two on fuselage centre line and five in the weapons bay. Ordnance includes cruise and anti-shipping missiles, torpedos mines, depth charges, and sonobuoys, deploying life rafts and other survival equipment.