There is a resurgence in demand for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) with many modern navies now showing a preference for dedicated long-range MPAs which can conduct anti-submarine warfare (ASW); anti-surface warfare (ASuW); intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and search and rescue (SAR) missions. Boeing’s P-8A ‘Poseidon’ has emerged as a popular MPA with orders from eight nations – the USA, India, UK, Australia, Norway, New Zealand, South Korea and Germany, with 155 aircraft now in service.
In January, France announced that it had begun studies for a future maritime patrol system that would be based on either the A320neo or the Falcon 10X business jet. These aircraft would replace the French Navy’s fleet of Dassault Atlantique ATL2 MPAs post 2030. The Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) operates the indigenously developed Kawasaki Heavy Industries P-1 maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) alongside its Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion MPAs.
Dominant MPA
The RNZAF is the newest operator of the P-8, taking delivery of its first aircraft in December 2022. The aircraft delivered was the first of four ordered by New Zealand and the 155th P-8 aircraft delivered by Boeing. Korea and Germany are to start taking deliveries of their P-8s in 2023 and 2024 respectively.
Boeing delivered the 150th multi-mission P-8 in July 2022 to the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) One based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The P-8 has two variants: The P-8I, flown by the Indian Navy (IN), and the P-8A Poseidon flown by the U.S. Navy, the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNAF) and Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
The global P-8 fleet has now amassed over half a million, mishap-free flight hours. The U.S. Navy is the largest operator of the type with approximately 115 P-8As delivered, followed by the RAN and IN with 12 each, nine with the RAF and five to the RNAF and one with the RNZAF. The P-8 can fly up to 41,000 ft and with its speed of 490 knots, achieves shorter transit times and also reduces the size of the Area of Probability when searching for submarines, surface vessels or search and rescue survivors.
The P-8 also offers cost advantages due to its 86% commonality with Boeing’s commercial 737NG jetliners. The P-8 is engineered for 25 years/25,000 hours in the harshest maritime flight regimes, including extended operations in icing environments. According to company officials, Boeing’s expertise in commercial fleet management and derivative aircraft sustainment provides customers with greater availability at a lower operational cost.
As a military derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation, assembly of the P-8I actually begins in a Boeing Commercial Airplanes factory before moving to Boeing’s defence facilities where it receives its multi-mission military systems.
France Looks to New MPA
France has opted for a domestic alternative to replace its fleet of 22 Dassault Atlantique ATL2 MPAs. In January, France’s defence procurement agency, the DGA announced that it would support two architecture studies for a future maritime patrol system. The studies would be based on two aircraft – Airbus A320neo and Dassault Falcon 10X. The studies will conclude with which is the best suited aircraft type to meet French MPA requirements post 2030. A decision on which of these two platforms will be most suitable is expected to be made by 2026.
“These solutions should remain open to cooperation with other European partners. The innovations studied may relate to the improvement of sensors, means of communication, the introduction of logic based on AI , or the integration of new weapons,” the DGA stated. The French Navy fleet of Atlantique ATL2 MPAs are in the midst of an upgade with 18 aircraft being modernised with new systems and weapons.
Japan Stays with Indigenous P-1
The JMSDF is replacing its P-3C fleet with the P-1, which is faster, has longer range, and greater payload capacity. The JMSDF’s P-1 and P-3C patrol aircrafts monitor the activities of ships and vessels in the seas and also work closely with destroyers and aircraft to locate missile launches, in addition to undertaking warning and surveillance activities. The P-1 is especially suited for low-altitude ASW as a result of large wing and spacious fuselage. It is also the first production aircraft in the world to use a fly-by-light, flight control system (FCS) that is substantially lighter than fly-by-wire (FBW) FCS.
The P-1 is an MPA specifically designed for the requirements for the JMSDF and is arguably the most sophisticated maritime patrol type in existence today. The P-1 incorporates cutting edge technology; such as the world’s first operational fly-by-light (FBL) system with high electromagnetic interference tolerance and an all new high-bypass ratio engine, the F7-10, developed by Ishikawajima-Harima Heavy Industries (IHI).
The all new F7-10, high-bypass ratio engines are not only economical to operate but their low noise levels contribute to acoustic stealth. With four engines, the aircraft can continue on its mission, even in a one engine inoperative condition. Publicly available information indicates that the P-1 has the ability to fly up to a maximum range of 8,000kms (4,300 nautical miles).
The primary sensor on board the MPA is a Toshiba HPS-106 advanced Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) maritime search radar. It is also equipped with a Magnetic Anomaly Detector (MAD) boom in the rear. Weapons carriage is facilitated through on-wing hard points and an internal weapons bay. Weapons said to be carried on the type are the Harpoon anti-ship missile, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, along with various torpedoes, depth charges and mines. The crew compliment consists of three flight crew and eight operators for the mission systems.
Development of the P-1 began in 2001 and XP-1, the first prototype aircraft made its maiden flight in 2007. The first production P-1 MPA was delivered to the JMSDF in March 2013. An estimated total of 70 P-1s are to be acquired by the JMSDF and KHI has also been targeting export sales of the P-1 without success.
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