Boeing has begun the Increment 3 Block 2 modification programme for the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon fleet and Australia has taken delivery of its 13th aircraft, according to the company.
Under a four year Increment 3 Block 2 schedule, the RAAF’s P-8As will receive new antennas, sensors and software intended to improve onboard computer processing and communications, allowing aircrews to search for, detect and target advanced submarines more effectively, according to the company.
Boeing says Australia is the first international P-8A customer to receive these Increment 3 modifications. The company also confirmed the 13th aircraft was delivered on 29 September and that a 14th is scheduled for delivery in 2026.
Boeing will carry out the initial upgrades at its maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Jacksonville, Florida, where teams have been upgrading and delivering P-8As to the U.S. Navy, according to the company. The first two RAAF aircraft will be modified there before subsequent work moves to Boeing Defence Australia’s Deeper Maintenance & Modification Facility near RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia.
Naomi Smith, director of Boeing Defence Australia Sustainment Operations, said in the statement that “these upgrades, together with the delivery of the 13th P-8A, mark two important advancements for Australia’s defence of its vast coastline.” She added that the changes would deliver “next-generation detection and targeting for aircrews” while preserving interoperability with the U.S. Navy P-8A fleet, quoted in the company statement.
Something else the UK didn’t buy.
Would presume these enhancements will eventually be deployed across P-8A fleet, w/ pro-rata development costs shared by all? Thereby, no government should/would be aggrieved. 🤔
Why would you “presume” you are getting something you didn’t pay for? The RAAF and USN paid for this development, not the UK or the P-8 program.
The UK always buys the baseline model and never upgrades. Then whines about it. Look at Spain and the typhoon situation.
We have to have meetings about when we have the meetings to consider when we might consider…….
Increment 3 Block 2. Christ, remember when they would just say P-8B and be done with it.
Curious if these P8s and E7s wired for ASRAAMs or AMRAAM/Meteor for self defence?
Although it doesn’t say it on the Wiki page. The P8 Poseidon can mount air to air missiles such as Sidewinder and AMRAAM under the wing hard points. In theory this could mean it could mount both ASRAAM and Meteor, but I don’t believe we have gone down that path, probably due to cost.
Not some thing we will get, we like it basic and then have spend a vast amount when our kit is out of date and behind every one else, so state normal. A miss managed fudge to save a few pound short term. Hope I am wrong but past buys and penny pinching says i will sadly be right. Another farce like just about every thing else we buy.