The RAF's Poseidon Adventure

摘要

Planning is well advanced in preparation for the arrival of the RAF's Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA). This follows the announcement in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) that nine aircraft would be purchased entering service from 2019. Air Commodore Ian Gale is Assistant Chief of Staff Capability Development C2ISR - he is the senior RAF officer responsible for command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance programmes. He told Aviation News the RAF aircraft will have a crew of eight comprising two pilots and two tactical co-ordinators (TACOs), acoustic operators and electronic warfare sensor operators. Initially, the US Navy Poseidon had a crew of five in the cabin but Air Cdre Gale said: "We've all concluded that six is what we need to operate the aeroplane most effectively." Indeed, working closely on commonality with the US is a core theme for the RAF on the P-8: "The great strength of this programme is that we are taking a combined approach. So we're doing things the same and the aeroplane stays common with the wider fleet. What we don't want to do is go down a bespoke British route." This contrasts with some previous Ministry of Defence aircraft purchases, when the installation of UK-specific equipment has occasionally led to overspends and delays. The commonality also extends to the weapons as the RAF aircraft will be armed with the Mark 54 torpedo for anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and the Harpoon anti-ship missile for anti-surface unit warfare (ASUW). Air Cdre Gale commented: "We intend for the aeroplane to have a lethal capability from day one." The aircraft has a five-station weapons bay, two external centreline hardpoints and four on the wings.