Air forces from the USA, Canada, Germany, Norway, and the UK participated in the first Joint Exploration and Discussion of Initiatives (JEDI) Symposium of 2025 at RAF Lossiemouth to strengthen their combined maritime patrol capabilities, according to a press release.
The symposium, which ran from 18 to 23 January, focused on aligning the efforts of over 40 Poseidon aircraft deployed across Europe and enabling them to act as a “single fleet.”
Crews carried out simulated anti-submarine missions during the event, honing shared procedures and examining new ways to improve interoperability. One Poseidon Instructor noted:
“Despite some differences in procedures at a tactical level, the crews were able to operate effectively thanks to common aircraft, mission systems, and weapons.”
In addition to exercises, the symposium served as a platform to review recent operational activity.
On 16 January 2025, the Royal Air Force confirmed that a P-8A Poseidon from RAF Lossiemouth had tracked a Russian landing ship, the RFN Aleksandr Shabalin, through the English Channel—an example of the aircraft’s role in “maritime surveillance” as well as search and rescue operations.
Squadron Leader Barber, Executive Officer of 120 Squadron, commented on the need for “close cooperation with allies and NATO partners,” saying:
“Maritime patrol is a team game, requiring close cooperation with allies and NATO partners to ensure a coherent response to any threats we may face. This is why the JEDI Symposium is such an important event, allowing operators from the five nations to exchange ideas and build bonds, both professionally and socially. RAF Lossiemouth is the ideal location, due to its strategic position on the northern approaches to the UK, and close to the entrance to the Baltic Sea.”
RAF Lossiemouth, currently home to nine Poseidon aircraft, also regularly hosts international partners for training. As part of ongoing collaborations, the station welcomed a US Naval Support Facility in 2024 and signed the “Trinity House Agreement” with Germany in the same year, allowing German Poseidon crews to operate from the Scottish base.
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One of the more sensible buys.
Thank god we have them and not another capability gap.
Could do with a few more TBH.
“Thank god we have them and not another capability gap.”
That’s not quite true because we did have a fairly lengthy capability gap from when Nimrod was scrapped by Cameron and P8 entered service with the RAF.
9 is also no way near enough, the original Nimrod requirement was to have 22 aircraft to provide adequate submarine cover. P8s are a lot cheaper to buy and run a T26. Maybe we don’t need 22 because a 737 NG derived aircraft will give you more hours than a Nimrod, but we definitely need more than 9.
A P8 costs about £150 million these days, so if we could acquire another 5 for £750 million that would be a big enhancer to our own security as well as NATO.
The other issue is how vulnerable the fleet it, they are currently all parked outside right next to each other at Lossiemouth, making the entire fleet susceptible to an early day attack by our enemies.
If we had a fleet of 15 we need to spread them across 2-3 airfields and provide some kind of hardcover for at least a couple of units.
If a situation arose where the Govt/MOD thought an attack on the UK was likely do you really think some of our most important assets would be parked up in neat lines at RAF Lossiemouth ? I’d like to give those in power a bit more credit.There has been more thought going into Forward Operations and Dispersal these past few years for that very reason.
Remember Pearl Harbour?
The UK has closed a great many airfields and bases since the end of the Cold War, has dispersion training even been carried with the P8s?
We have 5 sets of SkySabre to protect all military assets across all three branches.
Complacency and peace time thinking is the way of both Govt and the MoD these days.
A lot of bases have been shut, some have been transferred to be Army Barracks, but the Runways are still intact and usable.
Predanack was closed for decades, It’s open again for trials of certain new tech. Chivenor is still useable too, as are many others.
Tracked a Russian landing ship? So could a Cessna 142 from a flying club. The primary mission is way more complex, maybe just maybe people yarping could flesh the capabilities out a bit more. Then Joe Public might appreciate the aircraft more.