P-8 Poseidon aircraft to support Border Force operations in the Channel

A Royal Air Force P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft has flown from its base at Kinloss Barracks this morning to support Border Force Operations in the Channel.

This is part of a package of assistance from the Ministry of Defence to the Home Office as they tackle small boats crossing in the Channel.

The Defence Secretary has also authorised the use of the Shadow R1 aircraft. Both the P-8 Poseidon and the Shadow R1 will provide further essential support to the UK Border Force over the coming weeks subject to weather conditions and the Border Force’s requirements.

The aircraft will track vessels and pass information to the Border Force who will then take any appropriate further action. This task was initially under-taken on Monday by an Atlas A-400M aircraft, which flew from RAF Brize Norton to provide surveillance over the Channel.

Scottish home for Poseidon fleet reaches major milestone

Facilities to house the Poseidon MRA Mk1 fleet have been handed over to Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S), marking a major milestone in the Poseidon programme.

DE&S, the MOD’s procurement arm, will take control of the £100 million strategic facility at RAF Lossiemouth, Scotland.

Clocking in at over 33,000 square metres, the facility includes a three-bay hangar and accommodation for two squadrons, as well as state-of-the-art training equipment and facilities for those working on the fleet of nine Poseidon aircraft.

Designed and built by Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) and local construction partner Robertson, more than 300 employees worked on the building at Lossiemouth during the peak of the two-year project.

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said:

The new Poseidon fleet will reassert the UK in the maritime patrol arena. It will play an invaluable role in our national security for decades to come. The state-of-the-art Lossiemouth facility provides the fleet with an ideal base while helping to create and sustain jobs in Scotland.

Once operational in the autumn, the facility will be the workplace for 470 additional military and civilian personnel, taking the total number of people working out of the coastal base to about 2,200.

Boeing Delivers 100th P-8A Poseidon Built for the U.S. Navy

The U.S. Navy received its 100th P-8A aircraft from Boeing [NYSE: BA] today as the global fleet, which also includes the Indian navy and the Australian and U.K. air forces, approaches 300,000 flight hours of hunting submarines and providing aerial reconnaissance capabilities around the world.

“We’re honoured by the Navy’s faith and confidence in our employees and the P-8 system,” said Stu Voboril, vice president and program manager. "Our focus has been, and will be, on delivering the world’s best maritime patrol aircraft, bar none.”

RAF Declare Poseidon an Initial Operating Capability

RAF Declare Poseidon an Initial Operating Capability

Photo RAF

The RAF has formally declared an Initial Operating Capability (IOC) of its brand-new Poseidon MRA Mk1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft.  The UK’s Poseidon fleet, currently comprising of two aircraft with seven more to be delivered, strengthens our maritime security, helping to protect our people and our interests, at home and overseas.

Poseidon will now be patrolling our seas, hunting potentially hostile submarines and helping to defend our nuclear deterrent. It uses the very latest in cutting-edge technology to detect, identify and monitor hostile contacts both above and below the waves. It can carry up to 129 sonobuoys to search for enemy submarines and can be armed with Mk54 torpedoes if required to attack enemy submarines.

$1.5 Billion P-8A Poseidon contract for Boeing

Photo Boeing

It has been confirmed this week that the US Navy is going ahead with a much anticipated $1.5 billion production contract for the next 18 P-8A Poseidon aircraft from Boeing.

This deal includes eight aircraft for the U.S. Navy, six aircraft for the Republic of Korea Navy and four aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

The Republic of Korea Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force acquired the aircraft through the Foreign Military Sales process and will receive the same P-8A Poseidon variant designed and produced for the U.S. Navy. The Royal New Zealand Air Force is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2022 and the Republic of Korea Navy is expected to begin receiving aircraft in 2023.

The P-8 is a long-range multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft that is based on Boeing's 737 Next-Generation aeroplanes, with some extra bits of military kit.  These extras include maritime weapons, bomb bay, pylons for weapons, two weapons stations on each wing and can carry 129 sonobuoys. The aircraft is also fitted with an in-flight refuelling system to facilitate much longer missions on patrol over friendly, or indeed unfriendly skies. The P-8 can fly high -up to 41,000 ft and get to the area of interest fast with a speed of up to 490 knots.

A busy week for the RAF, operating across the globe

A busy week for the RAF, operating across the globe

The UK's RAF has completed a busy week at home, in the air and overseas, working alongside allies and other government departments.

Since the 5th of March, RAF personnel from a number of stations have been based at RAF Leeming undergoing a vigorous NATO evaluation designed to test the RAF’s ability to conduct NATO operations.  That testing culminated today with a pass from the NATO examiners.  The pass confirms that the RAF remains ready to support NATO for operational commitments.

Simultaneously, the RAF has scrambled aircraft to conduct Air Policing missions three times in six days to intercept Russian aircraft flying in the UK’s Flight Information Region.

Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth and RAF Coningsby, supported by Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft and coordinated by battle managers at the National Air and Space Operations Centre at RAF High Wycombe and the Air Surveillance and Control System at RAF Boulmer, intercepted and shadowed Russian Bear and Blackjack aircraft.

New Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft lands in UK for first time

The RAF’s new submarine-hunting Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) has touched down for the first time in the UK.

The aircraft is the first of a new £3 billion programme, including the purchase of nine state-of-the-art Poseidon jets, which will improve the UK’s ability to track hostile targets below and above the waves.

Poseidon aircraft will protect the UK’s continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and be central to NATO missions across the North Atlantic, co-operating closely with the US and Norwegian Poseidon fleets.

The UK’s purchase of the Poseidon is in response to increased threats such as Russian submarine activity in the Atlantic returning to Cold War levels, while China is also investing heavily in new Arctic facilities, infrastructure and ice-capable ships.

Defence Minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said: “Our Poseidon fleet will soon join an integrated UK force of fighter jets, ships, submarines, helicopters and highly-trained Royal Marines, ready to operate in Arctic conditions. The UK will not stand by if peace in the Arctic region is threatened.

The first Poseidon MRA Mk.1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft has been delivered to the Royal Air Force.

The UK's Royal Air Force has taken delivery of its first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA Mk.1 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA). 

The RAF will be getting nine of the jets, based on Boeing's 737 airliners, which are designed to greatly enhance the UK’s tracking of hostile maritime targets, protect the British continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent as well as playing an important role in forthcoming NATO missions and operations.

The deal for the nine aircraft is estimated to be around £3 billion and marks a massive investment for the future of the RAF. 

"These aircraft will transform the quality of intelligence available to our armed forces," said Ben Wallace  UK Defence Secretary. “The arrival of the world-class Poseidon aircraft marks a step-change in the UK’s maritime patrol capability.

“Using the world’s most advanced sensors and operating for long periods, these aircraft will transform the quality of intelligence available to our armed forces and protect our vital nuclear deterrent.”