Navy’s torpedo-armed Poseidon spy planes track China’s nuclear submarines
VX-20 Test Aircraft T-3
Heh. Spy plane? Not so much. Maritime Patrol with enhanced Antisubmarine Warfare (ASW) capability is more like it. This is how the aircraft was designed, with the ASW mission in the forefront. From some rocky beginnings to a Fleet Ready, mission capable aircraft was a long road, but the goal was achieved. Now the P-8 is picking up where the venerable P-3 operated, and much more.
By Kris Osborn | Warrior Maven
The increasing global reach of Chinese nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines, armed with JL-2 weapons reportedly able to hit parts of the US, continues to inspire an ongoing Navy effort to accelerate production of attack submarines, prepare long-dwell drones for deployment to the Pacific and continue acquisition of torpedo-armed sub-hunting planes such as the P-8/A Poseidon.Seeking to overcome the Pacific’s “tyranny of distance” dispersed geography, and track China’s expanding fleet of submarines, the Navy is working with Congress to produce as many as three Virginia-class submarines per year, moving beyond the current plan to build two. In the air, the Navy has been moving to place its new Triton sea drones in Guam and has recently awarded Boeing a $2.4 billion deal to produce 19 more P-8A Poseidon surveillance and attack planes.
Given the Poseidon’s role as a high-tech surveillance aircraft, known for capturing video of Chinese phony island building in the South China Sea (land reclamation) several years ago, it takes little imagination to envision ways its advanced sensors, sonobuoys and weapons could function as part of a containment strategy against Chinese expansion — and even operate as a deterrent against China’s growing fleet of nuclear-armed ballistic missile submarines (SSBN).
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The Poseidon, alongside ISR-enabled SSN attack submarines, seems well positioned to help perform this SSBN sub-hunting mission for a number of reasons. Not only is the P-8’s 564 mph speed considerably faster than the P-3 Orion it is replacing, but its six additional fuel tanks enable it to search wider swaths of ocean and spend more dwell-time patrolling high-threat areas. Navy developers explain the Poseidon can operate on 10-hour missions at ranges out to 1,200 nautical miles. More dwell time capacity, fortified by high-speeds, seems to position the Poseidon well for covering wide areas in search of “hidden” Chinese SSBNs.
The P-8A, a militarized variant of Boeing’s 737-800, includes torpedo and Harpoon weapons stations, 129 sonobuoys and an in-flight refueling station, providing longer ranges, sub-hunting depth penetration and various attack options. Given that a P-8 can conduct sonobuoy sub-hunting missions from higher altitudes than surface ships, helicopters or other lower-flying aircraft, it can operate with decreased risk from enemy surface fire and swarming small boat attacks. Unlike many drones and other ISR assets, a Poseidon can not only find and track enemy submarines but attack and destroy them as well.
Read the rest of the article here: Fox News
Great to see “my” aircraft in the fleet, operational, and a new generation of sub-hunters taking over for us old salts. Knowing the aircraft’s capabilities as I do, the last place I’d want to be in is onboard a Chinese boomer if that proverbial balloon goes up.
“Knowing the aircraft’s capabilities as I do, the last place I’d want to be in is onboard a Chinese boomer if that proverbial balloon goes up.”
Shack!
Great new ASW aircraft.
That said, did they also upgrade the crews’ onboard TAD Per Diem ATMs from the ones that were mounted in the old P-3s?
Heh heh heh.
See what I did there?
I did. It’s in the same place we hide contraband stogies and booze. Except now we can carry a lot more.
*grin*
Best place for booze was the doppler well and stogies was the lagging by the aft CB panel in the galley. Some people wedged them in between the sono chutes but you had to squeeze in through the HSC for that. Customs almost never went through the bomb bay luggage rack either but I never used it.
Were you on Charlie models? As SS-1 I had my own personal Duty Free Locker by my right knee, where my emergency O2 bottle lived. That actually was mounted on the door for a space reserved for the 10 inch tape reels we used to record mission data. Except no one used it for tapes, if they even knew about it.
i was on charlies, yes 🙂 I did not know about the SS1 duty free locker, i know where the O2 bottle is.. We had the the two walk arounds in back, one for ORD and IFT. I always used the IFT’s to sober up before planeside.
In retrospect I suppose he was using mine too..
I loved pulling out spent SLT’s, unscrewing the CAD and blowing gunpowder smoke up to the acoustic station, even better during a hot prosecution with a lot of yanking and banking.
Got back at my Ordie for pulling that shit. On plane-side brief I noticed his LPA was passed due for a 90 day inspection- I mentioned this to my SS-2 who happened to be an AW Chief at the time, and we came up with a plan.
Landing after the flight and on taxi back to the barn my SS-2 and I cock-blocked our Ordie into the space between the computer bays and inflated his LPA, effectively trapping him in there. Funny as shit watching him try to deflate the LPA while cussing up a blue streak.
I did have a chat with the Maintenance Master Chief about that. He was trying very hard not to laugh as he chewed my ass as to never ever inflate my Ordie again.
That put an end to cordite fumes at the acoustic sensor station.
Of course, he was still a dick with ears, and changed his target to the 3P.
But that’s another sea story.
The smell from a fired CAD was nothing compared to what I could produce after eating Kimchi.
Piker. I flew with an F/E who’s effluvia was so vile he caused a missed approached- His fumes in the cockpit forced the pilots to go on O2, and execute a missed approach. Tower got all excited and wanted to know if we were declaring an emergency.
This latest contract for 19 aircraft breaks down like this:
10 to the US Navy
4 to the UK
5 to Norway
The US has 80 flying, and contracts for 37 more (including the 10 above) to bring the inventory to 117 total.
Lived near a NAS during the Cold War and had P-3 Orions flying over my house until we moved when I was 12. Had trouble sleeping because there was no drone of aircraft.
Hope this has as good a history as the P3.
Cool beaners. Glad the sub chasers got some newer, better toys to play with. Guess cuntuhulu will say this is more wasted defence spending, you know, bullets and such. To me, this is an “investment” of gubmint (our money) that is worthwhile.
You gonna get to play on this puppy ‘Ed or are you stuck on REMF duty forever now?
I guess this one will not be able to take off and land on that floating 4 acres of US real estate that we have scattered from here to yon?
My tactical flying days are over, 5/77. But it’s my job to ensure the folks who are get the best. As I mentioned, I can and have brought a multi-million USD program to a halt until my system was functioning to my satisfaction.
Seems like I remember that. I had thought at the time that the system you were speaking of was the per diem ATM and the seegar/grog dispensers.
Much respect (don’t tell anybody) for Naval Aviation. “Oh Lord Your Ocean is so big and my plane is so small.”
Only the best for all of our Troops should be the standard that we shoot for. Too bad real life doesn’t work that way, and even worse that not everyone has your standards.
nope. P-3 did not either though. I know guys that did 20+ years in the Navy that never set foot on a boat. Proud of it.
That sure is a pretty plane ya got there, fella!
Does she fly as good as she looks?
Like comparing a Cadillac to a school-bus. P-3 wings were also fuel cells, meaning little flexing action to damp out the ride. The P-8 is a weaponized 737, which started out as a smooth riding passenger jet.
it also has carpet and a for reals flushing toilet. the ultimate in luxury!
Why is this being advertised? Can’t we keep anything secret?
Sometimes, you want the other guy to realize he is outclassed before the fight is even on.
And there is a gob-load of stuff not being said, to leave them guessing about just how much gap they need to close.
Last week saw P-8’s from Whidbey Island NAS doing touch-and-go landings at McChord AFB (now Joint Base Lewis-Mcchord) on two separate days. Beautiful aircraft and quieter than a C-17.
Whidbey gained the VP-4 P-3 squadron from Kaneohe, HI for their transition to P-8. That gives Whidbey 6 (?) squadrons of P-8’s to go with their 82 EA-18 Growler aircraft. Now P-8’s from Whidbey rotate to Kaneohe for patrols from what I understand.
We like to visit Whidbey Island and stay at the Navy Lodge, located in Oak Harbor on the former WWII PBY Seaplane base turned family housing area separate from the airfield, a couple nights a year. You can hear the Growlers taking off from the airfield, which is 4 miles from the Lodge.
Wikipedia reports, “In 2011, it was found that the P-8’s ice detection system was defective due to the use of counterfeit components; allegedly these computer parts were poorly refurbished and sold to subcontractor BAE Systems as new by a Chinese supplier.”
So many whys and WTFs? SMH
The discrepancy was discovered during test, Sparks. Eight freaking years ago. This is exactly why we perform lab, ground and flight testing- to discover issues and write Discrepancy Reports of various levels of severity.
In the course of this program I’ve written LOTS of DRs.
It ain’t a “spy plane” until it’s got an “E” at the front.
Are the VQs getting new birds also or are they going to continue to fly rickety ole EP-3’s?
Haven’t heard one way or another MC, but VQ and other Special Problems are a bit out of my swim lane. If they even exist at all.
Ex-OS2 (SW/AW) here.
What you mentioned above is what we labeled “Anti-Submarine Warfare” before it was changed into something more “nice”. It was one of the warfare areas that we had to be proficient in. 
I’ve seen that way as well. Guess it changes with whatever the new Admiral wants the style-guide to look like. In helos, ASW was actually job number 4 or 5 on my list. In P-3’s it was job 1.
It was one of our required rating knowledge. The others were anti-air warfare, and anti-surface warfare, amphibious warfare, navigation, tactical maneuvering, common operating picture, etc.
“old salts”
Heh. Just read an article in MILITARY this morning about an HS-11 crew dipping an AQS-13
from an SH-3H Sea King.
Went into emergency streaming, guillotined the ball and then lost an engine. All home safe.
You guys are nuts.
Bet the HAC* pissed off the Air Boss* by requesting an engine-out, running landing too.
Just another day at the office.
*grin*
*Helicopter Aircraft Commander (O-3 or 4)
*Lord of the Flight Deck (O-6 looking for O-7)
“Bet the HAC* pissed off the Air Boss* by requesting an engine-out, running landing too”
Yes, as a matter of fact he did!
The Maintenance Officer was aboard for an Observation test. He gave them a passing grade after changing his shorts.
Those engine nacelles look 737-400’ish to me.
The flat bottoms, you mean?
But the (air-independent) diesel boats are supposed to be very, very quiet. Are they?
Compared to what? *grin* Much farther down that path requires a SCIF and a Need-to-Know.
Isn’t a speed of 500 mph a bit of a handicap in tracking submarines?
That speed is for getting to the OPAREA, tim. That or Palma with a mysterious chips light…