P-8 Poseidon

Boeing · United States · first flew 2009 · transport aircraft

The P-8 Poseidon is a maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft based on the Boeing 737-800, combining long endurance with modern sensors and weapons.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, swept
E — Engines	2 × turbofan, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	Weapons bay and sonobuoy launchers under the rear fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

737-based low swept wing with two turbofans
Raked wingtips and conventional swept tail
Weapons bay and sonobuoy launchers under the rear fuselage

Look for the familiar 737 fuselage on a low swept wing with raked wingtips and two underwing turbofans. Military antennas, a rear weapons bay and sonobuoy launchers distinguish it from the airliner.

Specifications

The P-8 Poseidon has a length of 39.47 m (129 ft).
It has a wingspan of 37.64 m (123 ft).
Its maximum speed is 907 km/h (564 mph).
Typical crew: 9 (two pilots, mission specialists).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Boeing for the US Navy to replace the P-3 Orion, the P-8 first flew in 2009 and entered US service in 2013. It pairs a 737NG airframe with a 737-900-style wing and military mission systems.

Variants

The US Navy operates the P-8A, with export versions including the Indian P-8I and the RAF's Poseidon MRA1, all broadly common in airframe and mission fit.

Where you'll see it

The RAF operates the Poseidon MRA1 from RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland with Nos. 120 and 201 Squadrons, protecting UK waters, the carrier force and the nuclear deterrent. It has restored a fixed-wing maritime patrol capability to Britain.

Related aircraft

AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 4,893 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.