First Boeing P-8A Poseidon for United Kingdom Takes Flight

SEATTLE — The
first Boeing P-8A Poseidon for the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF) took
off from Renton, Washington, at 10 a.m. PT on July 12, marking the first flight
of this inaugural U.K. P-8A.

During the
90-minute flight, key testing took place before the aircraft touched down and
moved to the next phase of preparation before customer delivery, installation
of military systems.

U.K. Ministry
of Defence (MOD) and Royal Air Force personnel, along with Boeing P-8 program
leaders, were on hand to witness the takeoff and landing of the recently
painted aircraft, number ZP801.

“This is a
great milestone in the U.K. P-8A Poseidon’s journey to the U.K., as we are one
step closer to its arrival in Scotland,” said Air Commodore Richard Barrow, the
senior responsible owner for the U.K.’s P-8A program. “The platform will
enhance the UK’s maritime patrol capability with advanced, state-of-the-art
technology.”

The RAF P-8A
Poseidon fleet will support maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare and
anti-ship warfare for the United Kingdom and will increase protection of the United
Kingdom’s nuclear deterrent and Queen Elizabeth class aircraft carriers.

The first of
nine P-8As ordered by the United Kingdom now moves to the P-8 Installation and
Checkout facility in Tukwila, Wash., where mission systems are installed and
further testing happens before final delivery to the customer later this year.
When the aircraft is delivered it will first fly to U.S. Naval Air Station
Jacksonville for additional preparation and training by U.K. personnel before
flying home to the United Kingdom. The RAF will take delivery of ZP801 later
this year and it will move to the United Kingdom in early 2020.

The United Kingdom is one
of six international customers for the P-8A Poseidon. As a direct commercial
sale, India has received eight of the P-8I variant to date with four more in
production. The U.S. Navy is on contract to receive 111 with the potential for
additional quantities based on the fleet’s needs. As a cooperative partner with
the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Program Office, Australia began
receiving their P-8A aircraft in 2016 with eight delivered and four more in
production; Norway will begin receiving their five P-8As in 2022; both New
Zealand and South Korea have signed agreements with the U.S. Navy to purchase
four and six aircraft, respectively.