Article Posted on : - Jul 20, 2011

A file photo.

RENTON (BNS): A P-8A Poseidon long-range maritime surveillance aircraft for the US Navy has undergone first successful flight test on July 7.

The Boeing-made plane which is the first of six low-rate initial production (LRIP) aircraft being built by the company under a $1.6 billion US Navy contract awarded in January, made its maiden flight from the Renton Field and landed three hours later at Boeing Field in Seattle.

The successful flight marked LRIP-1’s completion of final assembly in the company’s Renton factory and transition to mission system installation and checkout in Seattle.

Boeing will deliver LRIP-1 to the Navy next year in preparation for initial operational capability, which is planned for 2013.

The P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft is based on a Boeing 737-800 airframe with state-of-the art equipment for maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare.

The intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft is being designed to replace the US Navy’s P-3C Orion aircraft.

The Navy plans to buy 117 P-8As, the first of which is expected to be delivered by 2013.