The U.S. Naval Air Systems Command has awarded Boeing $60.8 million to finalize work on upgrades for the P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime aircraft.
The contract will enable Boeing to mature the Increment 3 Block 2 capabilities through preliminary and critical design review. These capabilities include the Minotaur mission system, multi-static active coherent enhancements and wide-band satellite communications.
In addition, new computing and security architecture, automated digital network system, common data link upgrades, anti-surface warfare signal intelligence, combat system architecture improvements, and communication capability upgrades will be reviewed.
Work is expected to be completed by February 2019.
The P-8A is a derivative of a modified Boeing 737-800ERX airliner, featuring a high-bypass turbo fan jet engine with a fully connected, open architecture mission system. The armament of the Poseidon consists of five internal and six external stations for AGM-84H/K SLAM-ER, AGM-84 Harpoon, Mark 54 torpedo, and a High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon system among others.
Development of the P-8A program was started in June 2004 when the U.S. Navy selected the Boeing multimission maritime aircraft, 737 MMA, as the best successor to the P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft.