The P-8A Poseidon soars over the Pacific Northwest skies with Mount Rainer as its backdrop . More than 100 P-8s are currently in service for the United States Navy , with many of them being operated by Naval Air Station Whidbey Island in Washington . ( Boeing photo )
P-8 global sales and marketing representative John T . Breeden , who logged 4,553 flight hours on the P-3 Orion during 21 years of service in the U . S . Navy , said the new-age Poseidon that is replacing most P-3s has been a significant upgrade for the Navy and allies .
“ The capability this aircraft has in terms of Anti-Submarine Warfare ( ASW ), Anti-Surface Warfare ( ASUW ) and Intelligence Surveillance Reconnaissance ( ISR ) is far superior than any other maritime aircraft ,” Breeden said .
In 2022 , 20 percent of BDS employees , including Breeden , were veterans . A former petty officer first class who was stationed at nearby Naval Air Station Whidbey Island from 1999 until his retirement in 2004 , he points to the Island County base as a key operator of the Poseidon .
Systems engineer Jami Bunker and real-time software engineer John Harriss both continue to enhance the versatility of the KC-46A Pegasus as the needs of the mission evolve . ( Boeing photo )
“ On any given day , hour of the day and day of the week , a P-8A from Whidbey Island is most likely flying somewhere over one of our vast oceans ,” he said .
Currently in production as a commercial derivative within the Boeing Mobility , Surveillance and Bombers ( MS & B ) division , the P-8 is built on the same 737NG production line as the E-7 and converted into a military aircraft at the Defense , Space & Security P-8 Installation and Checkout Facility in Tukwila , Washington .
As for how the Poseidon is employed in the battlespace , Breeden points to new investments – like a recent $ 31.7 million contract awarded by U . S . Navy to provide ongoing evaluation , integration and delivery of the Boeing-built Multi-Mission Pod – to increase the aircraft ’ s capability .
20 NORTHWEST AEROSPACE NEWS