DECEMBER 2017 AUSTRALIAN AVIATION 31P-8s on order for the RAAF in service,
with deliveries continuing through to
- (A further batch of three is slated
to be acquired for service entry in the
late 2020s, according to Defence’s
current capability acquisition roadmap,
the Integrated Investment Program.)
The unit has conducted a number of
operational test and evaluation tasks,
and the P-8 has deployed to Malaysia,
Singapore, completed its first Operation
Resolute rotation, and participated
in its first multinational exercise,
Talisman Saber.
“The focus for the first 12 months
has been operational test and evaluation
(OT&E) of the platform,” 11 Squadron
commanding officer Wing Commander
David Titheridge tells Australian
Aviation.
“We bought a tested product
from the US, but there are role and
environment differences operating in
Australia.”
Some of the environment differences
related to flying the aircraft in Australiacompared to the US. RAAF crews
have been training on the P-8 at US
Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida
since early 2015 (first on USN aircraft,
ahead of the first RAAF P-8, A47-001,
being delivered to Jacksonville – or
‘Jax’ – in late September 2016). Most
US airspace is radar-controlled for
example, unlike much of Australia.
Another key difference is
maintenance support from remote
operating locations.
“When we deploy to operate outGOD
OFTHE
SEA
WRITER: GERARD FRAWLEY11 Squadron introduces the P-8A Poseidon into RAAF service
The RAAF’s first P-8A, A47-001,
arrived in Australia in November
2016.DEFENCE