The US Navy has added nine aircraft worth at least $1.8 billion to the programme of record for the Boeing P-8A Poseidon programme.
The extra aircraft have been added based on the results of a recent force structure analysis by the office of the chief of naval operations, says Neal Rothback, the P-8A programme's deputy integrated product team leader, but he declines to elaborate on the scope of the results.
The change increases Boeing's order backlog for P-8A from 114 to 123, including six P-8Is ordered by the Indian navy. Australia has also agreed to collaborate on developing the requirements for an Increment 2 upgrade planned in 2015, although Canberra has not committed to purchase aircraft.
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Since 25 April, Boeing has flown the first two test aircraft, and both are now being equipped with instrumentation for continuing the flight-test phase, says Tony Parasida, Boeing's vice-president for airborne surveillance aircraft. A third flight-test aircraft should be flown by the end of the year, he adds.
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Source: Flight Daily News
