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First RAF P-8 Poseidon lands in the UK 04/02/20 (Read 402 times)
 
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First RAF P-8 Poseidon lands in the UK 04/02/20
Feb 4th, 2020 at 2:55pm
 
Quote:
P-8A Poseidon: Scotland Welcomes New Submarine Hunter Aircraft

The 'Pride of Moray' is the first P-8A Poseidon to land in the UK.

4th February 2020 at 3:40pm

The first of the RAF's new P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft has landed in Scotland.

The 'Pride of Moray' touched down in the UK for the first time, when it arrived at Kinloss Barracks.

The Ministry of Defence (MOD) is spending £3 billion on a fleet of nine P-8As which will be used to hunt submarines and to carry out search and rescue missions.

The RAF received its first P-8A last October during a ceremony in the United States - where 120 Squadron has been training in the US to handle the latest air force addition.

Britain has been without any long-range Maritime Patrol Aircraft for more than a decade.

By the end of 2021, the RAF will have a fleet of nine of the aircraft all based at Lossiemouth.

The base is currently being modernised, ahead of becoming the P-8A's permanent home from the autumn.

The RAF base is 12 miles along the coast from the Kinloss Army barracks, with a £460 million revamp for the arrival of Poseidon - including a £132 million facility for the completion of the fleet.

Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, said he was "delighted" about the "game-changing" aircraft's arrival in Scotland, while First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, said he was looking forward to working with the RAF on the Poseidon.

The Poseidon will take over the role carried out by the nine-strong Nimrod fleet, which was scrapped in 2010.

The new addition will fill the void in dedicated aircraft protecting the coast from unidentified vessels.

However, they will also protect UK submarines and the new Royal Navy aircraft carriers, HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.

Defence minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: "Our Poseidon fleet will soon join an integrated UK force of fighter jets, ships, submarines, helicopters and highly-trained Royal Marines, ready to operate in Arctic conditions.

"The UK will not stand by if peace in the Arctic region is threatened.

"RAF Lossiemouth’s strategic northerly location makes it one of the most important air stations in the UK: already home to half of the UK’s Typhoon Force, and now sitting at the heart of our anti-submarine operations."

The Poseidon is based on the Boeing 737-800 Next Generation Aircraft, but has been adapted for its military role.

With automated identification systems, weapons for high altitude and a strengthened fuselage for low altitude missions, it is more than ready for duty.

The production of all nine P-8A aircraft is due to be completed by next year.


Info via https://www.forces.net/news/p-8a-poseidon-scotland-welcome-new-submarine-hunter-...
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