SEATTLE, 25 Sept. 2012. Boeing (NYSE:BA) won a $1.9 billion U.S. Navy contract for 11 P-8A Poseidon aircraft, the addition of which will bring the total fleet to 24 and strengthen anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
The Navy plans to purchase 117 P-8As, based on Boeing’s 737-800 commercial airplane, to replace its P-3 fleet. This contract marks the third low-rate initial production award for the production of P-8As. Two contract awards in 2011 totaled 13 aircraft, of which Boeing has delivered three.
"It has been an exciting and productive year for the P-8A program," admits Capt. Aaron Rondeau, P-8A deputy program manager for the Navy. "The fleet operators in Jacksonville are excited to have received their first three aircraft and look forward to the next delivery as they transition from the P-3 to the first P-8 fleet squadron."
"This contract is a stepping stone to full-rate production, and our focus remains on building Poseidon on cost and on schedule," said Chuck Dabundo, Boeing vice president and P-8 program manager.