TSAMTO, March 6. The Canadian Ministry of Defense is negotiating with the American company Boeing on the acquisition of up to 14 P-8A Poseidon base patrol aircraft, which are already in operation or ordered by many NATO allies.
As reported by Defensa.com Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand recently visited the United States, where she met with Boeing management to discuss military programs, including a project for the purchase of new patrol aircraft.
According to Canadian press reports, one of the main issues discussed was the possible acquisition of 14 P-8A aircraft worth about $9 billion. Canadian dollars (6.23 billion euro).
Recall that the request for information (RFI) in the framework of the tender for the supply of a multi-purpose aircraft CMMA (Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft) The Ministry of Defense of Canada published a year ago. On June 1, 2022, Boeing, together with several Canadian partner companies, announced its intention to offer the P-8A Poseidon BPA aircraft. The project involves replacing the CP-140 Aurora in service with the Canadian Air Force and expanding the capabilities of anti-submarine defense, as well as information gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance.
The Team Poseidon consortium, which includes CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defense, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada and Raytheon Canada, will provide development and support for the P-8 offer in Canada. As expected, if Poseidon is chosen, the project will provide an economic benefit in the amount of 5.3 billion rubles. Canadian dollars, providing more than 20 thousand jobs in Canada.
Boeing was the first company to announce its intention to participate in the tender for the supply of aircraft under the CMMA program. Earlier, Airbus also advertised the A-319 MPA maritime patrol aircraft. In addition, a national development based on Bombardier Global Express may be proposed. It is potentially possible to participate in the competition of Japanese Kawasaki with P-1 and Swedish Saab with Swordfish.
According to the terms of the request, the contract is expected to be signed no earlier than 2025, and deliveries of CMMA aircraft should begin in 2029. The initial operational readiness of the new platform will be reached in 2034, full operational readiness – in 2040. It is assumed that the deliveries will be accompanied by a compensation program in the amount of 100% of the contract value.
Currently, the Canadian Air Force has 14 CP-140 maritime patrol aircraft, which are a version of the P-3 Orion. The first of them were adopted in 1980.
The P-8A was developed by Boeing on the basis of the Boeing 737 Next-Generation airliner. It is designed for patrolling coastal areas and marine waters, anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare, conducting surveillance and reconnaissance on land and at sea, supporting search and rescue and humanitarian operations.
The length of the aircraft is 39.47 m, the wingspan is 37.64 m, the maximum take–off weight is 85,820 kg. The P–8 is equipped with two CFM56-7 engines, AN AN/APY-10 multi-purpose detection radar developed by Raytheon, which allows obtaining high-resolution images on land and at sea, equipped with anti-ship missiles "Harpoon" Block-2, 6-8 light anti-submarine torpedoes Mk-54 Mod.0, which can be dropped from a height of up to 6 km.
