Boeing expects to fly its first P-8 multi-mission maritime aircraft to a US Navy test site in the third quarter of this year, following a fresh schedule delay.
Director of business development for airborne battle management Tim Norgart says development aircraft T1 and T2 are now in Seattle undergoing flight tests, and that the first will to be moved to NAS Patuxent River in six months.
Boeing had planned to ferry the test aircraft to the Maryland site last September, and then delayed the event until the first quarter of this year. Norgart says both aircraft could be moved sooner, but that the USN needs more time to prepare its test facilities.
The USN plans to order 117 of the 737-based type, while Boeing is also working to sell a P-8I version to the Indian navy.
Speaking at the Singapore air show, Norgart revealed that the company is "in the process of integrating an aft radar" with the P-8 to meet Indian requirements for 360° coverage and an air-to-air surveillance capability.
The work is being conducted with Raytheon, which already provides the APY-10 radar for the P-8. The nose-mounted sensor currently provides a coverage of 240°.
Source: Flight International
