Celebrating 25 Years
October 20, 2020 – The RAAF P-8A Poseidon fleet has taken a step towards full operational capability with one of the surveillance aircraft completing the first air-to-air refueling with a KC-30A multi-role tanker transport. The two aircraft undertook seven refueling flights from September 22 to October 1, with the KC-30A leaving its home base of RAAF Amberley and meeting up…
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June 2, 2020 – The Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 “Pelicans” returned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Jacksonville, May 29, after an eight-month deployment. VP-45, led by commanding officer Cmdr. Paul Nickell, deployed with the “Diamondbacks” of Mobile Tactical Operation Center Five (MTOC-5). The squadron was deployed from October 2019 through May 2020 to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operation…
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May 26, 2020 – For the third time in two months, Russian pilots flew in an unsafe and unprofessional manner while intercepting a U.S. Navy P-8A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft in U.S. Sixth Fleet, May 26, 2020. On May 26, 2020, a U.S. Navy P-8A aircraft was flying in the Eastern Mediterranean over international waters and was intercepted by…
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April 15, 2020 – On April 15, 2020, a U.S. P-8A Poseidon aircraft flying in international airspace over the Mediterranean Sea was intercepted by a Russian SU-35. The interaction was determined to be unsafe due to the SU-35 conducting a high-speed, inverted maneuver, 25 ft. directly in front of the mission aircraft, which put our pilots and crew at risk.…
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March 30, 2020 — The U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $1.5 billion production contract for the next 18 P-8A Poseidon aircraft. The contract includes eight aircraft for the U.S. Navy, six aircraft for the Republic of Korea Navy and four aircraft for the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Republic of Korea Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force acquired…
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March 13, 2020 – Commander Task Force (CTF) 72 wrapped up its participation in the Australian navy’s Fleet Certification Period 2020, March 7. CTF-72 dispatched a P8-A Poseidon maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft (MPRA) from Patrol Squadron (VP) 45 to assist with the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) first major exercise of the year. Similar to the U.S. Navy’s FCP, the…
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March 11, 2020 – Crews operating Patrol Squadron (VP) 4’s P-8A Poseidon aircraft participated in Exercise Dynamic Manta 2020 (DYMA20), a NATO led maritime exercise Feb. 24 – March 6, 2020. Dynamic Manta, an annual exercise hosted by NATO’s Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM) took place in the Mediterranean Sea off the southern coast of Italy. The overarching purpose of the…
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