Boeing [BA], StandardAero Inc., and AAR Aircraft Services Inc. won a combined $413 million in contract modifications for P-8A Poseidon engine depot maintenance and repair work.
Boeing’s award, for $193 million, specifically provides for CFM56-7B27A/3 and CFM56-7B27AE engine depot maintenance and repair, field assessment, maintenance repair and overhaul engine repair. The Defense Department announcement also noted this covers technical assistance for removing and replacing P-8A engines for the Navy, Australia, and Foreign Military Sales customers.
Boeing’s work will largely occur in Atlanta.
StandardAero’s award is for $175 million and covers the same kind of work as Boeing. Its portion will occur largely in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
AAR’s portion is for $45 million and covers somewhat different activities: P-8A Poseidon aircraft depot scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, fulfillment of depot in-service repair/planner and estimator requirements, technical directive incorporation, airframe modifications, aircraft on ground support, and the same removal and replacement of engines.
Work on all three contracts is expected to be finished by October 2020. DoD noted funds will only be obligated on individual orders as they are issued, with none issued at time of award.
The P-8 operates primarily as an anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, and maritime surveillance asset to replace the older P-3 Orion aircraft.
Australia first took delivery of its first P-8A in 2016 and has been operating the aircraft for over two years. It currently operates eight aircraft and plans to get up to 12 total.
Other international Posiedon buyers include New Zealand, South Korea, Norway, the U.K., and India.
New Zealand signed a contract for four P-8s in July 2018 while South Korea ordered six in November 2018. Both countries are expected to take delivery of their respective first aircraft in 2022 (Defense Daily, May 7).
Norway previously ordered five P-8s as part of Lot 10 production, with delivery expected to start in 2021. The first of nine U.K. P-8s are scheduled for delivery this month.
India operates eight modified Poseidons, designated as the P-8I Neptune, and plans to increase its fleet to 12.