The Boeing P-8 Poseidon is an American maritime patrol aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defence, Space & Security, modified from the 737-800ERX.
It was developed for the United States Navy.
The P-8 operates in the anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and shipping interdiction roles.
It is armed with torpedoes, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons, can drop and monitor sonobuoys, and can operate in conjunction with other assets, including the Northrop Grumman MQ-4C Triton maritime surveillance unmanned aerial vehicle.
The P-8 is operated by the United States Navy, the Indian Navy, the Royal Australian Air Force, and the UK’s Royal Air Force.
It has also been ordered by the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the Republic of Korea Navy.
Variants
P-8A Poseidon
Production variant developed for the United States Navy.
P-8I Neptune
Export variant for the Indian Navy with a CAE Inc AN/ASQ-508A Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) and a Griffon Corporation Telephonics APS-143C(V)3 multi mode aft radar added.
Poseidon MRA1
Royal Air Force designation for the P-8A.
P-8 AGS
An Airborne Ground Surveillance variant proposed to the USAF in 2010 as replacement to the E-8 Joint STARS fleet; equipped with a pod-mounted, active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.
Specifications
Crew
Seven
Capacity
19,800 lb (9,000 kg)
Length
129 ft 5 in (39.47 m)
Wingspan
123 ft 6 in (37.64 m)
Height
42 ft 1 in (12.83 m)
Empty weight
138,300 lb (62,730 kg)
Max take-off weight
189,200 lb (85,820 kg)
Powerplant
2 × CFM56-7B27A turbofans, 27,300 lbf (121 kN) thrust each
Performance
Maximum speed
564 mph (907 km/h, 490 kn)
Cruise speed
509 mph (815 km/h, 440 kn)
Combat range
1,381 mi (2,222 km, 1,200 nmi) ; 4 hours on station
(for anti-submarine warfare mission)
Ferry range
5,200 mi (8,300 km, 4,500 nmi)
Service ceiling
41,000 ft (12,496 m)
Armament
Hardpoints
11 total
Internal bay with 5 hardpoints and 6 external hard points for a variety of conventional weapons, e.g. AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, AGM-84 Harpoon, Mark 54 torpedo, mines, depth charges, and the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon system
