INTRODUCTION
The Boeing P8 Poseidon is going to be the replacement aircraft for Canada's aging CP 140 Aurora aircraft. Ottawa made the announcement on 27 March, 2023. Government officials quietly fast tracked the retirement of the Aurora aircraft in spit of spending hundreds of millions modernizing the fleet. The target date for the replacement aircraft has been moved from 2040 to 2030. No CP –xxx designator has been assigned as of yet. The CP-140 Aurora maritime patrol aircraft has been in service since 1980. The federal government is planning to buy at least fourteen Boeing P-8 surveillance planes from the United States. The deal is expected to cost more than $10 billion with delivery expected in 2026 and 2027. This program, o procure the aircraft is dubbed the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft Project.The P-8A is a specially hardened and reinforced version of the Boeing 737-800 passenger jet, and is designed to operate either at extremely low altitudes or at high altitudes over the ocean to search for potentially hostile submarines. The aircraft is designed to withstand the rigors of low-altitude turbulence and exposure to salt spray.
| The P-8 Poseidon is expected to be delivered in 2026 and 2027. It has more than 400,000 mishap-free flight hours globally and there are 140 aircraft in service as of 2023. The new fleet will be based in Nova Scotia at 14 Wing Greenwood and in B.C. at 19 Wing Comox. (Photo credit unknown) |
GENERAL DATARole Maritime patrol aircraft
National origin United States
Manufacturer Boeing
First flight 25 April 2009
In service November 2013GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS
Crew: Flight: two; Mission: seven (To be determined by the RCAF)
Capacity: 19,800 lb (9,000 kg)
Length: 129 ft 5 in (39.47 m)
Wingspan: 123 ft 6 in (37.64 m)
Height: 42 ft 1 in (12.83 m)
Empty weight: 138,300 lb (62,730 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 189,200 lb (85,820 kg)
Power plant: 2 × CFM56-7B27A turbofans, 27,300 lb. (121 kn.) thrust each
Armament: To be determined by the RCAF. There are 11.Hardpoints:in total.
An Internal bay has 5 hardpoints and 6 external hard points for a variety of
conventional weapons.PERFORMANCE
Maximum speed: 564 mph (907 km/h, 490 kn.)
Cruise speed: 509 mph (815 km/h, 440 kn.)
Combat range: 1,383 mi (2,225 km, 1,200 nmi) radius with 4 hours on station for anti-submarine warfare missions
Air refuelling can be done with the new CC-330 Husky .(Airbus A330)
Ferry range: 5,200 mi (8,300 km, 4,500 nmi)
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,496 m)ELECTRONICS /AVIONICS (USA fittings)
Raytheon AN/APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar
AN/ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures Suite
AN/APS-154 Advanced Airborne Sensor
The RCAF will likely define the electronics suite for the Canadian Poseidons.
The aircraft will be equipped with modern avionics, anti-ship missiles, sophisticated torpedoes, sonobuoys, radar, and signals intelligence gear.AN/APY-10 RADAR ( X band)
SInce Canada will likely use the APY-10 radar, a few words will be said about it here The Raytheon AN/APY-10 maritime, littoral, and overland surveillance radar is a relatively new design for the P-8A. Compared with the previous generation AN/APS-137 radar, the AN/APY-10 has reduced size, weight, and power (SWaP); additional target track capabilities, a new color weather avoidance mode, and room for technology growth. The radar antenna fits into the nose of the Poseidon.and operates in the X band . It has a range of 250 nm.
Credits and References:1) Ottawa Citizen newspaper article by David Pugliese
2 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_P-8_Poseidon
3) militaryaerospace.com web site
4) APY-10 specs https://www.radartutorial.eu/19.kartei/08.airborne/karte062.en.html