The aircraft, delivered on schedule July 31st,
joined the other Poseidon aircraft being used
to train Navy crews in preparation for deployment.
The delivery follows Patrol Squadron (VP) 16s
recent return home from the P-8As first
operational deployment. The War Eagles
of VP-16 were deployed for seven months, operating
out of Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan. They were
recently replaced by the Mad Foxes
of Patrol Squadron (VP) 5.
Boeing is currently on contract to build and
support 53 P-8A aircraft. The Navy plans to purchase
117 P-8As, which are based on the Next-Generation
Boeing 737-800 platform. The versatile multi-mission
aircraft provides anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface
warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
capabilities and will replace the Navy Orion P-3
fleet.
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