Boeing wins $2.2B, multination deal for maritime patrol planes

Boeing has won a $2.2 billion contract for 17 submarine-tracking planes for the U.S. Navy, Australia and the United Kingdom.

The world’s second largest defense contractor will build 11 P-8A Poseidon for the U.S. Navy, four for the Royal Australian Air Force and two for the U.K. Royal Air Force, the country’s first versions of the aircraft.

The deal, awarded March 30 and announced by Boeing on Monday, includes options for 32 additional aircraft and “money for long-lead parts for future orders,” which brings the potential contract value to $6.8 billion, according to a company announcement.

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The U.K. will receive the first pair of aircraft from the deal in 2019.

Boeing has already delivered Poseidon aircraft to the U.S. Navy and two to Australia, while the Indian Navy flies eight of the P-8I variant of the aircraft.

The plane is based on Boeing’s Next-Generation 737-800 commercial airplane and has anti-submarine, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capabilities.

This is the second major Poseidon contract for Boeing in the last week. Norway in late March signed a contract with the U.S. for five P-8As for its air force to replace its Lockheed Martin-made P-3C/N Orion maritime patrol aircraft.