http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/07/20/215645/australia-to-join-boeing-p-8-mma-progamme.html
DATE:20/07/07
SOURCE:Flightglobal.com
Australia to join Boeing P-8 MMA progamme
By Graham Warwick
Australia is to negotiate to join the US Navy's Boeing P-8A
Multi-mission Martime Aircraft development programme, after the
government gave first-pass approval for the A$4 billion ($3.5
billion) AIR 7000 Phase 2 programme to replace the Royal Australian
Air Force's AP-3C Orions.
The 737-based P-8A Poseidon will meet the Royal Australian Air
Force's manned Maritime Patrol and Response Aircraft (MPRA)
requirement and operate alongside the Multi-mission Unmanned Aerial
System (MUAS). Australia has joined the US Navy's Broad Area
Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) programme to meet the MUAS
requirement, otherwsie known as AIR 7000 Phase 1.
Together the manned MPRA and unmanned MUAS will replace the AP-3Cs,
which are planned to be retired in 2018 after more than 30 years of
service.
After Boeing won the MMA competition in June 2004, Australia was
offered a stake in P-8 development in return for investing $300
million in the programme, but the Canberra government turned down
the offer in late 2005 because of a crisis in funding for defence
procurement.
Australia signed up in January 2007 to join the BAMS system
development and demonstration programme. A competiton is now under
way, with Boeing offering a Gulfstream G550 derivative, Lockheed
Martin and General Atomics the Mariner UAV and Northrop Grumman
RQ-4N Global Hawk. A decision is due in October.
Defence minister Brendan Nelson says participation in the proposed
cooperative development of the P-8 will provide opportunities for
Australian industry.
Boeing and the US Navy recently completed the critical design
review on the P-8. Approval to built two test aircraft will be
sought later this year. The US Navy plans to buy 108 Poseidons,
with deliveries beginning in 2013.