The US has approved the sale of five Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to Norway.
The Foreign Military Sale notification states:
“The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Norway for P-8A Aircraft and associated support. The estimated cost is $1.75 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 20, 2016.
The Government of Norway has requested a possible sale of up to five (5) P-8A Patrol Aircraft, each includes: Commercial Engines, Tactical Open Mission Software (TOMS), Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IO) MX-20HD, AN/AAQ-2(V)1 Acoustic System, AN/APY-10 Radar, ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures.
Also included are eleven (11) Multifunctional Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS); eight (8) Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies (GLTA) for the AN/AAQ-24(V)N; eight (8) System Processors for AN/AAQ-24(V)N; forty-two (42) AN/AAR- 54 Missile Warning Sensors for the AN/AAQ-24(V)N; fourteen (14) LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs); and two thousand (2,000) AN/SSQ-125 Multi-Static Active Coherent (MAC) Source Sonobouys; and
Spares; spare engine; support equipment; operational support systems; training; maintenance trainer/classrooms; publications; software; engineering and logistics technical assistance; Foreign Liaison Officer support; contractor engineering technical services; repair and return; transportation; aircraft ferry; and other associated training and support.
The total estimated program cost is $1.75 billion.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability throughout the world. The proposed sale will allow Norway to maintain its Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) capability following retirement of its P-3C MPA. This sale will strengthen collective NATO defense and enhance Norway’s regional and global allied contributions.
Norway has procured and operated U.S. produced P-3 Orion MPAs for over 40 years, providing critical capabilities to NATO and coalition maritime operations. Norway has maintained a close MPA acquisition and sustainment relationship with the U.S. Navy over this period. The proposed sale will allow Norway to recapitalize, modernize, and sustain its MPA capability for the next 30 years. As a long-time P-3 operator, Norway will have no difficulty transitioning its MPA force to the P-8A and absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor involved in this sale is The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA.
Additional contractors include: Air Cruisers Co, LLC; Arnprior Aerospace, Canada; AVOX Zodiac Aerospace; BAE; Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)/EMS; Compass David Clark; DLS/ViaSat, Carlsbad, CA; DRS; Exelis, McLean, VA; GC Micro, Petaluma, CA; General Electric, UK; Harris; Joint Electronics; Martin Baker; Northrop Grumman Corp, Falls Church, VA; Pole Zero, Cincinnati, OH; Raytheon, Waltham, MA; Raytheon, UK; Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA; Spirit Aero, Wichita, KS; Symmetries Telephonies, Farmingdale, NY; Terma, Arlington, VA; Viking; and WESCAM. Norway does require an offset agreement.
Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the prime contractor.
Implementation of the proposed sale will require approximately five (5) contractor personnel to support the program in Norway.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
P8 will dominate the maritime patrol/ASW market for many decades.
Relatively cheap to buy and operate.
Shame we ditch Nimrod MRA4 earlier (major problems were identified as early as 2001) and get involved with the P8 project at its inception.
Whilst it seemed on paper the MRA4 was a better plane, i suspect now that the P8 is becoming very popular, there will be plenty of money in it for research and improvements, which has to be a huge positive for the Royal Navy/Airforce.
Good news- some additional NATO interoperability and capability. Norway is one of the UK’s and NATO’s most capable allies. If Norway have the P8A and the RAF have the P8A this represents a great chance to share assets and undertake combined operations.
Bet the Russian Navy are not too happy about this news- makes their operating of submarines in the North sea and the Greenland, Iceland, UK/ Norway gaps look very risky and more likely to be found.
Just wished Norway had ordered more than 5 and the RAF had ordered more than 9 aircraft. Also wished we had some joined up thinking so the P8A could be refuelled in-flight by our new £14billion Voyager tankers ( ridiculous price for some air to air refuelling aircraft- almost criminal incompetency by MOD and waste by the RAF of precious defence budget- we could have purchased 20 modern type 26 frigates/ type 45 destroyers with that money and sorted out the mess the Royal navy is in easily.