Aircraft
Improved Multirole Poseidon Aircraft Prepares for Service
The Increment 3 Block 2 upgrade for the P-8 greatly enhances its ASW, ASuW and ISR capabilities
Boeing's P-8 Poseidon
The Poseidon P-8A BuNo. 169562 was the first fleet aircraft to enter the I3B2 modification process, seen here in Boeing’s Jacksonville facility shortly after delivery in March 2024.

This month Boeing expects to deliver back to the U.S. Navy the first production modification of the P-8A Increment 3 Block 2 (I3B2) aircraft, with another two already at an advanced stage of the update process. By the end of the year, six modifications should be complete, with the aim of achieving initial operating capability next April, and permitting the start of crew training on the new version of the multi-role platform.

Previous P-8A upgrades primarily concerned software, but the Increment 3 Block 2 is a major update that allows the P-8 to fully match the ambitions of its original procurement strategy. The modification requires the cabin to be stripped, and its cabinets, avionics racks, and crew stations to be replaced. Much of the wiring is replaced, and the airframe requires some modifications to accommodate new antennas.

Loading…

In this article