United Kingdom To Buy Boeing P-8 Poseidon

Hawker Siddeley Nimrod MR2 of Royal Air Force

The UK has taken a further step to fill a void maritime patrol left by the retired of Nimrod MR2 in 2010 after being approved by the United States Department of State to acquire nine Boeing P-8A Poseidons torpedo transport the Royal Air Force.

An estimated USD 3.2 billion value, the agreement is unlikely to face congressional opposition during the reporting period of 30 days as the advanced submarine carrying radar and hunter surface ship is already being exported to Australia and the India.

Agency Security Cooperation US Defense announced the approval of foreign military sales outstanding on March 25, just four months after British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the P-8A plan as part of an investment USD 270 billion in new military hardware.

The Defense Ministry chose a single source maritime patrol passed the nation's need for the Boeing 737-based P-8 on alternatives in Europe and Asia, as a C295 based solution presented by Airbus Defence & Space and Kawasaki P- 1.

Boeing P-8A Poseidon of US Navy

Since the transfer of Nimrod and abandon its planned replacement, the BAE Systems Nimrod MRA4, the UK has retained its maritime patrol in the air and competition recognition by incorporating the crews of the RAF with the forces of Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States. A replacement Nimrod "has remained unfunded highest priority requirement in the UK," notes DSCA.

If the acquisition is complete, the contractors first level will be: ViaSat, GC Micro, Rockwell Collins, Spirit AeroSystems, Raytheon, Telephonics, Palo Cero, Northrop Grumman, Exelis, Terma, Symmetrics, Arnprior Aerospace, General Electric and Martin Baker.