RAF Lossiemouth have welcomed their newest Poseidon MRA Mk1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, ZP806.

The submarine-hunter, named ‘Guernseyā€™s Reply’, is the sixth Poseidon aircraft to arrive at the Moray base and will operate as part of the re-established 201 Squadron.

The Royal Air Force say here that the aircrafts name honours the close bond between 201, the island of Guernsey and Jurat Herbert Machon OBE who named his Mk XVI Spitfire ‘Guernseyā€™s Reply’ during World War II.

Image Crown Copyright 2021.

Wing Commander Smolak, Officer Commanding 201 Squadron, was quoted as saying:

“I am thrilled to welcome Guernseyā€™s Reply to RAF Lossiemouth.Ā  Not only does this mark a further increase to our maritime air capability here at RAF Lossiemouth but it is also a fitting tribute to the association between 201 Squadron and Guernsey.Ā 

Everyone on 201 Squadron is very proud of this long-standing association and the history which it represents. As we move forward, we must continue to foster the links which brought us to where we are now, and I am personally grateful to be able to play my small part.”

Poseidon is equipped with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare, as well as surveillance and search and rescue missions. It features an APY-10 radar for high-resolution mapping, an acoustic sensor system, an electro-optical/IR turret and electronic support measures.

Nine Poseidon MRA Mk. 1 aircraft have been ordered.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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52 COMMENTS

  1. Why are fighter aircraft / transport / ISTAR aircraft not named?

    We have so few now anyway. For example, Battle of Britain pilots on Typhoon (F) Squadrons.

    On the railways I think all or most engines are named so why different here.

    • Crews. Larger aircraft are often “pooled” in squadrons. 120, 204, and the OCU will have many more crews than aircraft.

    • Commerical aircraft designed to be used. they keep working if used nearly constantly so it does makes sense to land trun around and sortie with new crew. Always had availability issues with Tristar’s which sat around Brize for days/weeks not used then when they tried turning on things broke šŸ™ The down side is you then only have limited surge/war increase available it’s not likme WW2 where you can role aircraft x per day of the line even worse for ships as they can take 5+ years

      • The flip side seems to be that these P8’s can actually be built pretty fast.

        Given they are commercial conversions and are designed for lot of flying hours with the gremlins designed out experientially.

        So the reality may be that we only have 9 but that may actually be the equivalent of 14+ MRA4’s (lets not start that argument again) given the inevitably better reliability of something that has been mass produced and optimised for low maintenance costs and high up times.

        There is also the possibility that more could be ordered as the line is still live. And this might be a lot quicker fix to box in Russian subs than waiting for more subs to be in the water.

        • We should order another 6 P8s, they are vital for helping protect our Nuclear subs and considering we have so few ASW ships and Atack subs and how the planes are relatively cheap in comparison I canā€™t and donā€™t understand why not..

          • Agreed, we will struggle to cover 2 CSG’s plus the ARG and still have enough ASW ships to cover the deterent and patrol GIUK gap. P-8’s can cover a lot more area and response to alerts from SOSUS. Protector might be fine for surface but not sub hunting.

          • the original order of the 9 and simulators and training facilities. was a one-off contract, the general feeling is they could add another airframe 1 per year, once the 9 are delivered and Add to the fleet like the Australians do by attaching to other orders.

          • Tagging onto a order seems to be the way to go, given the price difference for our last 4(507mi!), as opposed to this standalone order for the Germans 5(750ish mil). Obviously the full details of both deals aren’t in the public domain, but. nevertheless……

        • I support UK industry but with the scale we buy at the design expenditure is always huge for what we get. Always thought we should have joined US for F-16/ F15 c & E / F-22!!! and built under licence (what with our ‘Special’ relationship ļ»æšŸ˜…ļ»æ) could still put our black boxes and engines in to maintain skills?

          • Wasnā€™t the Typhoon largely British design and plane so we were busy with that and harrier upgrades, and tornado. But the F15 is a beast I would have loved that flying in the RAF, the F22 Iā€™m not sure about, the yanks seemed determined not to let anyone have that beast.

          • The Special arrangements only worked one way. you give us all this and we will SELL YOU this. so we scrap all our plans and they then scrap what there were going to sell. F16/F15 Maybe but Europe was developing the Tornado and putting money into its own countries’ pockets. F22 no overseas sales and a stupid price tag. Without Tornado there is no Typhoon, without Typhoon there is no Tempest. USA did its very best to kill UK aircraft industry.

        • P8s actually work, unlike the MRA4s which is why the fleet dwindle to dust, 737NG USN just ordered another 8 RAAF another 2 Germany now ordered 1.5 maybe. LOL P8s can use any of the 737 models, 1000s sat still parked in storage. one of the reasons the Wedgetail new builds were cut.

          • There seems to be a lot of misinformation on the MRA4, from ā€œHas never flownā€ to ā€œOnly a reconfigured MR2ā€. This was so far from the truth. We actually flew 8k hours on the three development aircraft PA1, 2 and 3, even achieving a Polar flight, torpedo separation etc. As I understand it, the P8 does not yet have a sonobuoy capability as the Yanks havenā€™t yet fully developed high altitude launched Buoys. The UK developed the Mission System for MRA4 with Boeing as the lead contractor. Are we just buying the same package back in a 737 with a different EO Turret and updated RADAR?

  3. This is more good news for sure. I don’t have any knowledge of how these aircraft can protect our own submarines and detect other submarines. Can anyone with knowledge give an outline (without giving too much away)!?

    • Russian sub leaves port.
      Spotted by NATO satellites.
      Spotted by Norwegian MPA.
      Spotted by other NATO ISTAR assets.
      Info shared amongst NATO allies and especially UK USA through 5 eyes.
      Sub pings IUSS, often in multiple locations.
      Dam Neck monitors this and informs Northwood and Commander Ops, who is also FO Submarines.
      Northwood informs RAF, and RN assets like the on call T23 or SSN if available.
      P8 dispatched to area.
      Drops sonar bouys, which hopefully detect Sub.
      P8 reports location of sub to Northwood, who inform High Wycombe, NATO SAC Atlantic in Norfolk, or whatever he’s called these days, and direct other assets to area to join search, be they other MPA, SSN, ASW frigates.

      Just educated guesses and the RN and sub types will correct I’m sure.

      • Thanks Daniele very helpful. Do you know if MAD is still a useful technology which would materially add to the capability if fitted?

          • Interesting that MAD is an option. I was thinking it perhaps wasn’t compatible with the high flying 737 airframe.

          • For MAD to be effective, the carrier aircraft needs to be low level, down in the weeds so to speak.
            That’s not the P8’s natural environment, unlike the Nimrod’s at the time.

      • That’s pretty much it mate, the general idea being to keep tabs on it as soon as it departs home port, and keep in contact for the duration, with MPAs conducting hot handovers as and when required, even if we have a SSN following.

  4. 6 out of 9 aircraft now delivered. Returning to a limited MPA capability. We need a few more of these aircraft to help track pesky Russian subs and screen our nuclear deterrent returning and leaving on patrols. Say 5 to 6 more aircraft should be a priority.
    As an island nation we shouldnt forget our lessons from history. Namely that submarine warfare almost defeated the UK in 2 world wars.

    • Agreed. Never mind having 300 Challenger tanks. These are needed, and of direct use in defence and as deployable assets.

    • Are the 9 P8s absolutely it or is it just for now? Is there any talk or open mindedness by the MOD to getting 3-5 more even with the planned uptake of drones in sea surveillance roles?

    • Thinking outside the box for a moment, regarding Eire /ROI and whether or not they should be responsible for their own QRA, wouldn’t it make more sense for them to operate a number of P8’s instead, seeing how vital the Maritime Area is around them ?.

  6. Boeing have now completed manufacture of the ninth and final P8 Posiedon for the UK. The aircraft ZP809 appeared on the flight line at Renton Washington fully painted on 21st of August. The 7th & 8th aircraft have flown and are at Boeing field being outfitted with mission systems.

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