In Singapore, Boeing introduces P-8 Poseidon multi-sensor pod, for more ‘multi-mission’ uses – Breaking Defense Breaking Defense

A P-8A Poseidon, of Patrol Squadron (VP) 30, flies aboard the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75). (US Navy Photo by 2nd Class Mass Communications Specialist Mike DiMetico / Released)

SINGAPORE AIR SHOW: They won’t say who they’re talking to in Asia, but Boeing is clearly eager to sell the P-8 here and is touting a multirole jet that the company says increases sales. level of the aircraft’s sensors.

When Boeing executives were repeatedly asked about potential sales to Asia, they – as is often the case with international arms sales – answered with a polite twist. is “we will not share the order book with you”.

Best version: “We didn’t miss a Singapore Airshow because of our regional interest, but we can’t comment specifically,” said Sean Liedman, head of sales P- 8 Boeing International, told Breaking Defense.

A P-8 was on the ground in the exhibition’s static display area, complete with a crew that is regularly trained and ready to discuss with visitors the aircraft and its capabilities – within the classification limit.

Back to the shell. It’s a 20 ft long module, designed to accept the module’s payload. Those sensors could include what Liedman calls “a range of multi-sensor, multi-spectral, multi-intelligent capabilities.” This takes the P-8, which he notes is “born as a multi-role maritime aircraft” and “expands it further so that it is truly multi-role and multi-spectral aircraft”.

The standard sensor on the P-8 offers a much smaller aperture than it can provide, simply because of its size. As space experts know well, physical maneuverability, especially where optics and radar are concerned.

Now that a larger team generates more data, it can be a challenge in itself. But Liedman notes that the P-8’s expert crew has alleviated the overload of data pipelines. “They do the outbound analysis and take the snippets of interest to reduce the amount of data that needs to be extracted from the aircraft,” he said. In contrast, a drone must transmit all of its data to a ground station.

Boeing has reason to be eager to sell more P-8s. The most recent contract signed with Germany for five aircraft will remain on the production line “until the end of 2024”.