Navy to Begin Initial Production of P-8A

U.S Navy via Defense Talk ^ | 1/25/2011 | Defense Talk

[ErnstStavroBlofeld]

The U.S. Navy announced today the award of a $1.6 billion contract to Boeing for P-8A Poseidon aircraft Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) of six aircraft.

This first LRIP contract also includes spares, logistics and training devices. Production of the first LRIP aircraft will begin this summer at Boeing’s Renton, Wash. facility.

“In 2004, the U.S. Navy and the Boeing Company made a commitment to deliver the next generation maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft to support a 2013 Initial Operational Capability (IOC),” said Capt. Mike Moran, PMA 290 Program Manager. “This contract and these aircraft keep that commitment on track.”

Three of the six flight test aircraft, built as part of the System Development and Demonstration contract awarded to Boeing in 2004, are in various stages of testing at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Md. The Integrated Test Team has conducted sonobuoy releases and counter measures deployments.

Recently, one of two static test planes completed full scale testing on the P-8A airframe. The first static test aircraft underwent 154 different tests with no failure of the primary structure. The second aircraft will begin fatigue testing this year.

The U.S. Navy plans to purchase 117 production P-8A aircraft to replace its P-3 Fleet. IOC is planned for 2013 at NAS Jacksonville, Fla.

[Vroomfondel]

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[magslinger]

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[MontaniSemperLiberi]

Can someone tell me what makes the P-8 better than the P-3?

[Yo-Yo]

Can someone tell me what makes the P-8 better than the P-3?

The wings aren't about to fall off?

[Wizdum]

Oh, I don’t know. Possibly jet engines, more lift capability for equipment and crew, extended range, better avionics, but those are just the basics.

[pabianice]

Six. That’s probably the entire production run, plus a few ISR versions. ASW is the first from which money is taken during peace time.

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

That’s nice. I have a few rhetorical questions for you.

So how long can a turbofan engine stay on a low altitude station vs. a jet engine?

Answer: Much, much longer.

So is the wing loading better for a jet engine than a prop engine?

Answer: No, not really, they are two different variables, the P-3 does just fine and if one needs more weapons on station, just take another P-3 with you.

So how good do the avionics need to be for a four engine turbofan airplane?

Answer: Not very good at all.

So is the range of the P-3 too low?

Answer: No, it’s just fine and better than the P-8 thank you very much.

So the range is longer without refueling, the time on station is longer, it carries plenty of weapons, costs less, etc., etc. etc.

You’re right about one thing, you don’t know. You’ve struck out on everyone of your points. Tell us again how the P-8 is going to accomplish the same mission but this time do it with numbers and with a cost comparison.

[Wizdum]

The P8A is a more fully capable aircraft and can be readily converted to a number of missions. It's faster, flies higher and covers more area with less travel than the P3.

Simple lesson, higher altitude enables the ability to 'see' further.
Also, the overall maintenance is similar to a number of systems already in place, so parts, logistical supply, and training is refined and simplified keeping operational costs lower.

But thanks for playing. A-hole

P8A

General Characteristics:
Propulsion:Two CFM56-7 engines providing 27,000 pounds thrust each
Length:129.5 feet (39.47 meters)
Wing Span:123.6 feet (37.64 meters)
Height:42.1 feet (12.83 meters)
Maximum Takeoff Gross Weight:189,700 pounds (85,139 kilograms)
Speed:490 knots (564 mi/h, 789 km/h)
Range:1,200+ nautical miles, with 4 hours on station (1,381 miles, 2,222 kilometers)
Ceiling:41,000 feet (12,496 meters)
Crew:9

P3 Orion

Wing span: 100 feet
Length: 117 feet
Height: 34 feet
Weight: maximum takeoff: 142,000 pounds
Speed: maximum: 473 mph
cruise: 377 mph
Ceiling: 28,300 feet
Range: maximum mission radius: 2,380 nautical miles 3 hours on station at 1,500 feet: 1,346 nautical miles
Power plant: four Allison T56-A-14 turboprop engines
Crew: 10

[tupac]

They are new?

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

I don’t think there is any doubt the airframes are worn out. I suspect the real reason is that the P3 pilots wanted jets.

So where is VP-4 now? I believe my Dad was with them in 1973 in Barbers Point.

[MontaniSemperLiberi]

First, if you look back at the thread, you condescended, didn’t call you names and in fact toned things down from your post. You came up short and, as my Dad would say, should straighten up and fly right.

Poking around the internet this afternoon I find that the P-3 has greater payload. Also, while on station, it doesn’t need to be refueled twice so the P-8’s crew size is effectively twice as large as the P-3’s. The extra speed the P-8 has would be negated by the need to take a time out to refuel. Moreover the P-3 can fly plenty high now that they fixed the oxygen system fires in the 60’s but when attacking subs, planes don’t want to fly very high anyway.

I still don’t get it. It seems by every objective number the P-3 was a better plane for the mission. I found the Orion 21 project and it seems to have just the kind of upgrades one would want.