New contract for Boeing P-8A Poseidon

On 31 March 2021, the Boeing Company was awarded a USD 1,6 billion modification to a previously awarded fixed-price-incentive-fee contract (N0001914C0067).

This modification provides for the production and delivery of eleven P-8A Poseidon Lot 12 production aircraft; nine for the US Navy and two for the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The deliveries are expected to be completed in September 2024.

The RAAF currently operates twelve Poseidons with 11 Squadron Shepherd or Destroy at RAAF Edinburgh (SA).

According to the Scramble Magazine database, the US Navy has 109 active P-8As in its inventory. These are operated by seventeen squadrons. The two main air bases are NAS Jacksonville (FL) on the east coast and NAS Whidbey Island (WA) on the west coast.

Overview US Navy P-8A Poseidon squadrons:

NAS Jacksonville (FL)
VP-5 Mad Foxes ('LA-xxx'), VP-8 Flying Tigers ('LC-xxx'), VP-10 Red Lancers ('LD-xxx'), VP-16 (War) Eagles ('LF-xxx'), VP-26 Tridents ('LK-xxx'), VP-30 The Pro's Nest ('LL-xxx'), VP-45 Pelicans ('LN-xxx') and VPU-2 Wizards (SP)
Dallas/Love Field (TX)
BUPERS SDC Dallas
NAS Patuxent River (MD)
VX-1 Pioneers ('JA-9xx') and VX-20 Force
NAS Whidbey Island (WA)
VP-1 Screaming Eagles ('YB-xxx'), VP-4 Skinny Dragons ('YD-xxx'), VP-9 Golden Eagles ('PD-xxx'), VP-40 Fighting Marlins ('QE-xxx'), VP-46 Grey Knights ('RC-xxx') and VP-47 Golden Swordsmen ('RD-xxx')

VP-4 has a permanent detachment at Kaneohe Bay MCAF (HI) MCB Hawaii, Marion E. Carl Field. Next to this detachment, Poseidon squadrons are deployed on a regular base to the following air bases: Masirah (Oman), Muharraq (Bahrain), Sigonella (Italy), Rota (Spain), Misawa (Japan), RAF Lossiemouth (UK) and Andenes/Andoya (Norway).

Next to EP-3E Orions from VQ-1 World Watchers ('PR-xxx') at NAS Whidbey Island (WA), the last Lockheed P-3C Orions are operated by VP-30 The Pro's Nest ('LL-xxx') and VP-62 Broadarrows ('LT-xxx') at NAS Jacksonville (FL), VP-69 Totems ('PJ-xxx') at NAS Whidbey Island (WA) and BUPERS SDC Dallas at Dallas/Love Field (TX).

Also some test squadrons still operate specific variants of the P-3 Orion, these are VX-30 Bloodhounds ('BH-xxx') at NAS Point Mugu - Channel Islands ANGS (CA), and VX-1 Pioneers ('JA-xxx') and VXS-1 Warlocks ('RL-xxx') at NAS Patuxent River (MD).

Photo: Nick Dean and Preston Fiedler, both kindly provided by Planespotters.net