Moderators: richierich, ua900, PanAm_DC10, hOMSaR
A101 wrote:I read somewhere the options agreement expires at the end of the year
bikerthai wrote:I believe you may be thinking about UK cutting back the E-7.
bt
bikerthai wrote:A101 wrote:I read somewhere the options agreement expires at the end of the year
Makes much more sense on such an order late in the year.
The options reserve a place in line. So I guess if the options expires and the RAAF wants more, they would have to negotiate a new contract and get US gov approval again. Just more paperwork.
bt
A101 wrote:Not sure about the approval part as its a continuity sale of the same item just the price would have to be renegotiated from what I understand of the process
Boeing announced that their subcontractor Spirit Aerosystems has started the construction of the fuselage of the first P-8A Poseidon for the Norway Defence Forces late January 2021.
The first P-8A for the Luftforsvaret is expected to be delivered in 2022, the final and fifth aircraft in 2023.
trex8 wrote:Congressional notification sent for 5 for Germany
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major- ... ed-support
Germany currently operates the Lockheed P-3C Orion, but that aircraft is reaching end-of-life and will retire in 2024. Germany plans to replace it with the P-8A Poseidon.
WoodysAeroimag wrote:169571 rolled out of paint.
bikerthai wrote:trex8 wrote:Congressional notification sent for 5 for Germany
https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major- ... ed-support
From the press release:Germany currently operates the Lockheed P-3C Orion, but that aircraft is reaching end-of-life and will retire in 2024. Germany plans to replace it with the P-8A Poseidon.
This statement tells me it's that it's more or less a done deal.
There is nothing out there with comparable capabilities that will be available in that time frame.
bt
Too expensive for an interim solution
However, it is far from certain whether Germany can and will afford the five jets for the Navy. The funds required have not yet been recorded in the defense budget, and the financing of the armaments project has expressly not yet been secured. In addition, there is still the plan that a Franco-German maritime patrol aircraft based on the Airbus A320neo will take over the scepter from 2035, so that the Orion successor should only be a temporary solution. As such, the P-8 would definitely be too expensive.
According to the Federal Ministry of Defense, there are three possible replacements: the Turboprops Airbus (CASA) C-295 "Persuader" and the RAS 72 from Rheinland Air Service and the Boeing P-8A Poseidon from the USA.
VSMUT wrote:Rather misleading statement, it is only a contender, Germany hasn't made a decision. According to FlugRevue, Germany is looking for an interim replacement for the P-3 from 2025, until the A320neo based replacement enters service in 2035.
bikerthai wrote:Remember, putting stuff out for bid also pushes your time line out and risk a drawn out litigation process from the loser.
VSMUT wrote:Competitive bidding ensures transparency and equality. It prevents corruption.
texl1649 wrote:When would Germany be able to procure/receive them if Boeing did get such a contract (thru FMS)? Isn’t the P-8 line booked thru 2025?
texl1649 wrote:When would Germany be able to procure/receive them if Boeing did get such a contract (thru FMS)? Isn’t the P-8 line booked thru 2025?
ThePointblank wrote:Germany could also negotiate with the USN to take aircraft already in production, and the USN will just add replacement frames at the end of production.
VSMUT wrote:bikerthai wrote:Remember, putting stuff out for bid also pushes your time line out and risk a drawn out litigation process from the loser.
Competitive bidding ensures transparency and equality. It prevents corruption. Suggesting we should do away with such central democratic principles sounds an awful lot like something a corporate shill would say.
texl1649 wrote:The US FMS process also works to provide a 'fair' price I believe,
RobK wrote:WoodysAeroimag wrote:169571 rolled out of paint.
Nice. One more USN to follow this then 3x RAFs in a row, then first Norwegian and another Indian after.
RobK wrote:8796 afaik.
Did you see the Belavia the other day? I have a suspicion that these are ntu as the later ones are showing as Boeing ownership now. Its visit to MWH might have been for prep for a new operator. However it did fly back with its Belarus hex so maybe not. It's in C6.
BobLoblah wrote:First flight yesterday (3/19) of BOE118 for the US Navy, presumably 169750. This is reported by boefamily.flights to be N612DS, MSN 66103. Line# not listed.
RobK wrote:I've noticed that the recent P-8s no longer have the blob at the top of the tail. Satcom?
Reddevil556 wrote:Out of curiosity what is the device installed on the top of the vertical stabilizer?
RobK wrote:The KC46 doesn't fly at slow speed 100ft above the ocean for long periods.
bikerthai wrote:They kept the aft left door for bail out. They only plugged the aft right.
Kind of hard to see but you can see the yellow stripe near the forward and aft left door in Woody's photo above.
At least one aft exit door is required as there are seats after the mission racks and there has to be an accessible exist in case a rack block the aile during a ditching.
The over wing exist are also kept for evacuation. If you look at pictures of the floor plan, you'll see the area in front of the over wing exists are kept clear of equipment.
There were trials of crew exiting he over wing doors with artic suites on.
bt