from FlightGlobal:

US Navy discloses three-year, 36-aircraft buy for P-8A
By Stephen Trimble

The US Navy clarified today that it will order 36 Boeing P-8A Poseidons during the first three years of production, perhaps further opening the door to accelerating the in-service date by one year.

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) disclosed the purchasing plans for the first three low-rate initial production (LRIP) lots from 2010 to 2012 on the Federal Business Opportunities web site.


© Boeing

© Boeing

Five developmental prototypes are now in various stages of assembly, with the first expected to achieve first flight in the fourth quarter of 2009.

The land-based P-8A is being designed primarily to hunt for submarines.
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