The US Navy has adopted a new type of anti-submarine aircraft of the basic patrol aircraft. On March 4, 2012, the first production P-8A Poseidon arrived at the Seattle Air Force Base.
The Boeing-737 civil airliner was chosen as the base platform for Poseidon. The fuselage is based on the 737-800 and the wing is based on the 737-900. The initial design of the wing was slightly changed, the wingtips became swept. At the bottom, in front of the fuselage, an armament compartment was placed, and anti-ship missile suspension assemblies were placed on the planes.
As a power plant, two CFM56-7B27A turbofan engines with a thrust of 120 kN are used. The CFM56 family of theaters - the most widespread in the world - are used on many Boeing and Airbus models. In addition to the obvious advantages - economy and low noise, CFM56 are renowned for their high reliability - the probability of in-flight failure is 0.003% per 1000 flight hours.
The length of the aircraft is 39 meters, the height is 12 meters, the wingspan is 35 meters, its own weight is 62 tons, the maximum take-off weight is 85 tons. Poseidon's top speed is within 900 km / h. The speed in patrol mode at an altitude of 60 meters is 330 km / h.
Much attention is paid to the development of radio-electronic means. The aircraft is equipped with the AN / APS-137D (V) 5 airborne radar and the Raytheon AN / APY-10 electronic reconnaissance system. The AN / APS-137D (V) 5 synthetic aperture radar allows mapping the terrain, identifying stationary surface targets, and also has a mode that allows detecting submarines at periscope depth.
In the submarine periscope detection mode, high-frequency scanning in high-resolution mode with filtering sun glare is used.
The set of equipment includes new receivers of the satellite navigation system with increased noise immunity, an integrated state recognition system, a towed decoy target and highly protected VHF communication equipment.
Also, the new anti-submarine aircraft, like its predecessor P-3 Orion, is equipped with a magnetometer to determine the disturbances in the Earth's magnetic field caused by metal parts of the submarine's hull.
Poseidon can carry 120 sonar buoys (50% more than its predecessor P-3). For the deployment of hydroacoustic buoys, the aircraft is equipped with a rotating launcher developed by the EDO corporation with three launchers with a capacity of 10 buoys each, capable of single and salvo discharge.
The internal weapons compartment can house free-fall bombs, Mk 54 torpedoes, mines, depth charges and long-range SLAM-ER anti-ship missiles. The underwing pylons are designed for suspension of the Harpoon anti-ship missiles.
Self-defense of the aircraft is provided by the EWSP electronic countermeasures system, which includes the AN / ALQ-213 (V) electronic warfare system, the DIRCM directional infrared jamming system, the radar exposure warning system and the passive jamming system.
Also on the basis of the P-8A "Poseidon" was created an export version of the P-8I "Neptune" for the Indian Navy. The contract worth $ 2.1 billion was signed on January 4, 2009. The first 12 vehicles are to enter service with the Indian Naval Aviation in 2013. In total, the Indians plan to receive up to 24 "Sea Gods".
In total, by 2018, the US Navy plans to purchase 117 Poseidons to replace the fleet of rapidly aging P-3 Orion, developed back in the 60s. It is also possible to purchase another modification of the P-8 AGS - an air command post as a cheaper alternative to the modernization of the E-8 Joint STARS.
The first production aircraft after a cycle of flights on the West Coast will be sent to Jacksonville AFB, Florida, where the naval aviation training center is located. The first Poseidon squadron will reach operational readiness no earlier than 2013.
Russian submariners have something to respond to the increased threat. The Russian Federation is actively building the newest strategic missile submarine cruisers of Project 955 Borey. The lead submarine of the series - K-535 "Yuri Dolgoruky" has already passed a cycle of mooring and sea trials. Its main weapon, the D-30 complex with the Bulava SLBM, was put into service. The one-type K-550 "Alexander Nevsky" is undergoing mooring trials. The third boat of the project - "Vladimir Monomakh" is being built according to an improved design, with a new layout, increased to 20 units. ammunition for SLBMs and a new sonar station. In 2012, it is planned to lay the foundation stone of the fourth ship "St. Nicholas". To accelerate the pace of construction, ready-made sections from the submarines, project 971 "Shchuka-B" and project 949A "Antey", which were not completed in the 90s, are used.
Also, soon the Russian Navy should receive new nuclear submarines with cruise missiles pr.855 "Yasen" and diesel submarines pr. 677 "Lada" that have no analogues in the world.
