First RNoAF P-8A Poseidon moves into assembly
Late January 2021, the construction of the fuselage of the first P-8A Poseidon for the Luftforsvaret (RNoAF, Royal Norwegian Air Force) started with Boeing's subcontractor Spirit Aerosystems in Wichita (KS).
On 12 April 2021, the fuselage with line number 8796 arrived at the Boeing facilities in Renton (WA). The P-8A, a derivative of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation commercial aircraft, is the first of five Maritime Multimission Aircraft (MMA) that were ordered by Norway in March 2017 at a value of USD 1,2 billion.
According to Boeing, the first aircraft will be delivered to Norway later this year and the last aircraft will be delivered in 2023.
The Poseidons will replace the RNoAF veteran fleet of six P-3C/N Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) as well as the two Dassault Falcon 20ECM surveillance aircraft. The Orions are operated by 333 skv at Andeness/Andoya air base while the Falcons are operated by FEKS/717 skv at Oslo/Gardermoen air base.
Photo: Boeing