MILITARY: News

摘要

RAF Declares Poseidon MRA1 IOC INITIAL OPERATING Capability (IOC) of the RAF's Boeing P-8A Poseidon MRA1 maritime patrol aircraft fleet was formally announced on April 1.The service reported: "Poseidon will now be patrolling our seas, hunting potentially hostile submarines and helping to defend our nuclear deterrent. It uses the very latest in cutting-edge technology to detect, identify and monitor hostile contacts both above and below the waves."AM Andy Turner, the RAF's deputy commander for capability, said: "I am absolutely delighted that the Poseidon Force has met its first operational milestone on time. It is a crucial aircraft for the security of the UK, critical to allies and NATO and a major weapon to press back on our adversaries all over the world."Currently, two aircraft are operated by the air arm - ZP801 (c 64175/line number 7532) Prideof Moray and ZP802 (c 64176/line number 7642) City of Elgin. They were delivered to the RAF and arrived on UK soil earlier this year. The service will take ownership of a further seven examples, completing the UK's planned fleet of nine. Poseidon MRA1s are operated by No 120 Squadron and will also be employed by No 201 Squadron when it re-forms on the type in 2021.