Boeing [BA] was awarded a $2.2 billion contract last week to build a total of 17 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the U.S. Navy and the Australian and British air forces.
The Navy will receive 11 aircraft, while Australia and the United Kingdom will get four and two, respectively, Boeing said April 3. The Navy already has taken delivery of 53 P-8As, while Australia has two. The contract will give the U.K. its first Poseidons, to be delivered in 2019.
The contract contains options for 32 more aircraft and long-lead parts for future orders. If exercised, the options would boost the contract’s total value to $6.8 billion.
Based on Boeing’s 737-800 commercial airplane, the P-8A provides anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. The Navy has amassed more than 96,000 flight hours since it began Poseidon operations in 2013.