GREENLAWN, N.Y., 10 March 2011. BAE Systems received a low rate initial production contract from Boeing to provide mission computer systems for six P-8A Poseidon aircraft. BAE Systems' mission computer system for the P-8A is a flexible and ruggedized processing platform that can be configured to meet the general purpose, input and output, video, voice, and graphics processing needs for modern military battle management requirements.
“The P-8A possesses an advanced mission computer system built by BAE Systems that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space,” says Gary Rubasch, P-8A program manager for BAE Systems. “It will influence how the Navy's Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Forces operate and deploy.”
The P-8A Poseidon, developed by a Boeing-led team for the U.S. Navy, is a long-range, anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft. The Navy is likely to purchase roughly 117 P-8A aircraft to replace its P-3 fleet. Initial operational capability is planned for 2013.
BAE Systems completed mission computer system qualification testing in June 2010. Boeing completed the program’s first mission systems test flight in Seattle that same month. That test aircraft, along with two others, are currently at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md., for continued flight testing.
Work will be performed in Greenlawn, N.Y., and is expected to be completed in 2012.
