Boeing Defence Australia has agreed to provide sustainment support to the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) fleet of P-8A Poseidon aircraft.
A four-year agreement to this effect was signed between the Australian Department of Defence and Boeing.
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The deal to support P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and response aircraft is expected to create more than 35 jobs in South Australia.
Australia's Minister of Defence Industry Christopher Pyne said: “This contract continues to deliver on the Turnbull Government’s commitment to using Australia’s defence expenditure to the benefit of both Australia’s national security interests and the economic health of this important employment sector.
“Developing this kind of indigenous capability, where we can maintain our own military hardware, is critical for our national security and is good for Australian jobs.”
In September this year, Boeing launched the first P-8A Poseidon aircraft for RAAF.
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By GlobalDataBased on Boeing’s 737-800 fuselage, the new maritime patrol aircraft will replace a fleet of AP-3C Orion aircraft currently in service with RAAF.
The P-8A is equipped with weapons bay, under wing and under fuselage hard points for weapons and is designed for continued low level operations and high angle of bank turns.
Pyne further added: “The P-8A is a world class Maritime Patrol and Response aircraft and Australian Defence industry support will be a critical enabler to our military’s operational capability in the region.”
“Importantly Australian defence industry involvement in the sustainment of this aircraft will provide regional support for the global P-8A fleet and has the potential to improve opportunities for Australian defence industry participation in future support activities.”
Image: A P-8A Poseidon flying alongside a Lockheed P-3 Orion. Photo: courtesy of US Navy photo by Liz Goettee.
