JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Boeing Co. is upgrading Australian P-8A maritime patrol aircraft with new antennas, sensors and software to improve onboard computer processing, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), surveillance and reconnaissance, and communications.
The Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment is carrying out upgrades to the first Australian air force P-8A of an upgrade program as Australia also begins to integrate its 13th P-8A aircraft.
Under the four-year Increment 3 Block 2 modifications, Australia’s P-8As will receive upgrades to ASW and other electronic subsystems to enable aircrews to search for, detect, and target the world’s most advanced submarines, Boeing officials say.
The first two of Australia's P-8As will be upgraded at Boeing's Jacksonville, Fla., maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility. The remaining aircraft will be modified at the Boeing Defence Australia (BDA) Deeper Maintenance & Modification Facility near Australia Base Edinburgh, South Australia.
International fleet upgrades
The Australia P-8As also are the first international planes to be upgraded at the Boeing Jacksonville facility, where teams continue to upgrade and deliver upgraded P-8As to the U.S. Navy.
The Increment 3 Block 2 upgrade to the P-8A Poseidon is to enhance the aircraft's ASW, anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. Upgrades involve new airframe racks, radomes, antennas, sensors, and wiring that improve the P-8A's airframe and onboard avionics.
This upgrade is installing a new combat system with improved computer processing power and high-security architecture. It also adds a wideband satellite communication system, ASW signals intelligence capability, a submarine track management system, and enhanced communications.
Tell me more about the P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jet ...
- The P-8A Poseidon is a military maritime patrol aircraft developed by Boeing for the U.S. Navy. Based on the Boeing 737-800, it is designed for anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The P-8A is equipped with advanced sensors, including radar, sonar, and infrared systems, to detect and track ocean threats. It also carries torpedoes, depth charges, and Harpoon missiles for strike capabilities. The P-8A is a key asset in maintaining U.S. and allied naval superiority and enhancing joint operations with allied forces.
The Increment 3 Block 2 upgrades to the Poseidon also involve new acoustic systems to improve the aircraft's ability to search, detect, and target advanced submarines and enemy surface warships.
The U.S. Navy began modifying its P-8A fleet with these capabilities starting in early 2024, with the first aircraft flying in the upgraded configuration earlier this year.
For more information contact Boeing Defense, Space & Security online at www.boeing.com/defense/p-8-poseidon#overview, or the Royal Australian Air Force at www.airforce.gov.au/aircraft/p-8a-poseidon.
