L3Harris has been awarded a contract to perform depot maintenance, repair and overhaul support of the US Navy’s fleet of 135 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. Credit: L3Harris.

The US Navy have selected L3Harris Technologies for the Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) of all 135 P-8A Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft .

Granted on 30 September 2024, the US defence prime will begin work this year at its air modification facility in Waco, Texas and continue through to September 2029.

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Poseidon is a multi-mission aircraft used to conduct long-range maritime and littoral operations as well as search and rescue missions. It has intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, anti-submarine warfare, and anti-surface warfare capabilities.

The platform is a replacement aircraft for the fleet of 196 P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft, which are approaching the end of their operational lives in the Navy.

Currently, GlobalData intelligence indicates that there are only 127 active units left in the Navy fleet. The initial operational capability of P-8A was achieved in November 2013.

Since then, L3Harris has provided sustainment and modification support on the Orion across multiple customers, including the US Navy and NOAA and to the militaries of Brazil, New Zealand, and Republic of Korea. 

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“We are proud of our longstanding tradition of providing the US Navy with integration and sustainment solutions for mission success,” said Jason Lambert, president, ISR, L3Harris. “We also look forward to supporting the Navy’s international military partners as part of this new award.”

Other global users include Australia, Germany, India, New Zealand, Norway, and the UK. Most recently, Canada procured 16 units from the manufacturer, Boeing, which went on to invest $240m (C$327.6m) in industrial and technological support for the fleet based in Quebec.

The Poseidon aircraft design is based on the proven fuselage of the 737-800 and the wings of the 737-900. It is 129.5ft (39.47m) long and 42.1ft (12.83m) high with a wingspan of 123.6ft (37.64m).

The internal weapons bay is installed beneath the forward section of the fuselage. The 737-900-style wings are built with hardpoints for carrying air-to-surface missiles.

The integral bomb bay can carry free-fall bombs, Raytheon Mark 54 torpedoes and depth charges. Air-to-surface missiles are installed on the underwing hardpoints.

When it comes to countermeasures, Northrop Grumman supplies the electronic warfare (EW) self-protection suite, which includes a Terma AN/ALQ-213(V) EW management system, Northrop Grumman directional infrared countermeasures set, Northrop Grumman radar warning system and BAE Systems countermeasures dispenser system.