Production of the first Viking Poseidon has started

Boeing announced that their subcontractor Spirit Aerosystems has started the construction of the fuselage of the first P-8A Poseidon for the Norway Defence Forces late January 2021. The 737-800 fuselage that is getting shape from now, will meet its 737-900 wings and its flight and specific military systems at the Boeing facility at Seattle (WA), all together they will form a P-8A Poseidon.

As known, the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) has ordered five P-8A Maritime Multimission Aircraft (MMA) in a USD 1,2 billion contract in March 2017. The P-8s are purchased as a replacement for the RNoAF veteran fleet of six P-3C/N Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) as well as the two Dassault Falcon 20ECM surveillance aircraft. The Orions are operated by 333 skv at Andeness/Andoya air base while the Falcons are operated by FEKS/717 skv at Oslo/Gardemoen air base.

The first P-8A for the Luftforsvaret is expected to be delivered in 2022, the final and fifth aircraft in 2023.

Photo by Boeing/ US Navy