Armed Poseidon

The US Navy showed a picture of a P-8A Poseidon of Patrol Squadron (VP) 8 ('LC-xxx') Tigers that was made in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations.The Poseidon, deployed with Commander, Task Force (CTF) 57, shows the aircraft equipped with four AGM-84D Harpoon all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missiles.

The picture was already made mid-January 2021, but it is still interesting to see these armed Boeings. CTF-57 aircraft conduct missions in support of maritime operations to ensure stability, security, and the free flow of commerce in the Central Command area of responsibility, which connects the Mediterranean and Pacific through the Western Indian Ocean, encompassing three strategic chokepoints.

VP-8, normally based at NAS Jackonville (FL) is known to be deployed from November 2020 with aircraft dispatched to NAF Misawa (Japan) as well as Shaikh Isa air base (Bahrain). Through the deployment months, VP-8 BuNo's 168437/LC-437, 168754/LC-754, 169336/LC-336, 169342/LC-342 (colourful marks), 169550/LC-550, 169552/LC-552 and 169553/LC-553 were reported at mentioned locations. The shown pictures were made at Shaikh Isa.

Photo by DVIDS/US Navy Mass Communication Specialist Second Class Juan S. Sua