Boeing Rolls Out the Navy P8A Poseidon

An estimated 500 guests, including Governor Christine Gregiore and Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Gary Roughead, applauded the roll out of the Navy’s next generation electronics surveillance/submarine hunter at the Boeing Renton plant on July 30, 2009. The P8A Poseidon provides a leap forward in capabilities over the P3C Orion it replaces.

Photo: Boeing Company

Nearly 100 officers and sailors from Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, an eventual home for the P8A, flocked to the new aircraft following the official ceremony to check it out and “kick the tires.”


The Navy plans to buy 117 of the aircraft, while India will purchase 8 more and Australia has expressed an interest in 4 aircraft. More purchases by foreign navies could on the horizon upon flight test and certification.

The roll out of the P8A trailed the roll out of the Navy’s version of the F-35 joint strike fighter (JSF) at the Lockheed-Martin plant in Houston, Texas earlier this week.



Guest Blogger: Roger Olsen, Navy League of the U.S. Tacoma Council