Boeing completes first P-8A Poseidon Increment 3 Block 2 modification
February 25, 2025
The P-8A is the Department of Defense’s only long-range, full-spectrum ASW, cue-to-kill platform. It has substantial armed ASuW (Anti Surface Warfare) and networked ISR capabilities. The Increment 3 Block 2 modification will enable the US Navy P-8A fleet to be outfitted with the full anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities that were originally outlined in the P-8A programme’s evolutionary acquisition strategy. Boeing has thereby delivered the final planned spiral upgrade to the P-8A platform to fulfill the validated baseline requirement for full ASW capability.
The US Navy has budgeted more than US $3 billion for the Increment 3, Block 2 upgrade, which will be embodied on some 130 P-8As. This means that the modification will cost, on average, about US $2.3 million per aircraft.
Aviation Week’s Steve Trimble reported that the upgrade includes Multi-Static Active Coherent – Enhanced (MAC-E) capability. The MAC-E is based on the use of an active sonobuoy transmitting a ‘coherent’ waveform to a network of acoustic receivers. The P-8A then processes the signals received to triangulate the position of an enemy submarine target.
Increment 3, Block 2 provides a significant upgrade to the P-8A airframe and avionics systems, and includes new radomes, antennas, sensors, airframe racks, and wiring. The modification incorporates a new combat systems suite with an improved computer processing and higher security architecture capability, a wide band satellite communication system, an ASW signals intelligence capability, a track management system, and additional communications and acoustics systems to enhance search, detection and targeting capabilities.
Increment 3, Block 2 will also provide a new baseline, upon which , future P-8A modifications will be implemented via a sequence of rapid capability insertion efforts, in response to evolving threats around the world.
Rear Admiral Adam Kijek, the Commander of Patrol and Reconnaissance Group/Patrol and Reconnaissance Group Pacific explained that: “P-8A Increment 3 is the next step in the spiral evolution of Poseidon. By design, and through the efforts of NAVAIR and industry teaming, Increment 3 Block 2 represents the baseline configuration the Navy needs to address tomorrow’s high-end threat.”
The US Navy delivered the first P-8A Poseidon aircraft to Boeing for modification with Increment 3 Block 2 capabilities on 27 March 2024. Increment 3 Block 2 related modifications were undertaken at Boeing’s Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul hangar at Cecil Airport in Jacksonville, Florida.
The first fleet aircraft modification was expected to be complete in January 2025, but seems to have been delayed to late February, the US Navy announcing completion on 24 February. Boeing is understood to be finishing functional checkouts of the installation, and subsequent ground and flight acceptance tests will be undertaken in the coming weeks.
The initial delivery is scheduled in the fourth quarter of the year.
Capt. Erik Thomas, program manager for the Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft program office, PMA-290 (which manages the acquisition, development, support and delivery of the US Navy’s maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft) said that: “Increment 3 Block 2 brings the capability that the P-8A was made for. These modifications will allow aircrews to search, locate and track the most advanced submarines in the world, enabling the fleet to pace the threat with the required capability and capacity to win the fight. This delivery demonstrates the PMA-290 team’s outstanding work ethic, professionalism and dedication to the fleet.”
