Two separate contracts signed in recent days show how the RAAF’s acquisition of the P-8A Poseidon is gathering pace.
On June 30 a US Department of Defence statement detailed that Boeing has been awarded a contract for the procurement of long-lead items for the manufacture of the P-8A Poseidon that includes four RAAF aircraft. The US$359 million modification to a previously awarded advance acquisition contract also covers 25 aircraft for the US Navy. It is the second contract covering long lead items for RAAF P-8As.
Meanwhile, a day earlier CAE announced that Boeing has ordered simulator hardware for four additional P-8A operational flight trainers, two of which are for the RAAF’s P-8A training system. The RAAF operational flight trainers are scheduled for delivery to RAAF Base Edinburgh in late 2017, CAE stated.
The RAAF is set to receive eight Poseidon aircraft, with an option for four more subject to the outcomes of the 2015 Defence White Paper. Deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2017.
