Boeing P-8 Poseidon

The true king of the sea

A Boeing P-8-A Poseidon is pictured during an air display on the second day of the Farnborough International Air show in Hampshire, England, on July 15, 2014. The biennial event sees leading companies from the aviation industry showcase their latest technology. AFP PHOTO / CARL COURT

Since its entry into service in 2013, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon has not stopped demonstrating its capabilities, becoming an export success. In the coming years, furthermore, new equipment and weapons will increase its versatility to an extreme never seen before, moving it further away from other devices in the same segment such as the Persuader, its predecessor the P-3 or the Atlantique 2 Gauls. When this happens, what is undoubtedly the most complex and complete maritime patrol aircraft developed to date will also be a fearsome enemy equipped with sharp claws. Then yes, he will show off his name and can be considered, without a doubt, the true king of the sea.

Any reader will know that for many years now, submariners have had a rather humorous saying: “In the sea there are two types of ships, submarines and white ships”. Although this statement is still true, at least in part, it should not make us forget that surface units offer a series of capabilities that submarines do not: zone air defense, air-naval power projection on land, amphibious assault operations, command and control, and even ABM or anti-satellite operations among many others.

However, when it comes to providing defense against surface units, the submarine has two great advantages: stealth and the ability to go unnoticed by hiding in the depths of the sea. Hence arises the urgent need to combat this threat.

To do this, today, there are only three possibilities: 1) combat the threat with another submarine; 2) use surface units (corvettes, frigates, destroyers...) or, finally; 3) the use of aerial means, which are the final purpose to be developed in this small work. Specifically, we will focus on the figure of the device that is revolutionizing naval warfare from the air: the Boeing P-8 Poseidon.

Currently, the main military powers have clearly defined which of the three is the method that offers the best cost/operability/effectiveness results; the use of aircraft. Regarding these, although today they are manned units (both fixed wing and rotary wing), little by little a new variant is emerging in the form of unmanned aircraft (UCAVs).

The first units specialized in anti-submarine warfare could be considered the Catalina, Short Sunderland, Kawanishi H8K, Dornier Do24 seaplanes and also the bombers redirected to escort convoys in the Atlantic, such as the B-24. However, they had rather poor detection means that were practically limited to the vision of their crew members. Shortly after, the first discovery radars and magnetic anomaly detectors (MAD) were added. Likewise, to attack the targets there was rifle fire provided by machine guns and/or onboard cannons, rockets, general use bombs and depth charges.

A very important advance in anti-submarine warfare came from the hand of sonobuoys, an electronic device launched from the air and that, at a relatively moderate cost, was (and is) capable of capturing the sound generated by a target below the surface. In recent versions, they have been so perfected that they allow highly specialized sonar operators to even discern the origin of the sound: propellers, propulsion equipment, water displacement... The use of caleable sonars is also very important today, although it is It is true that, since their use is limited to rotary wing aircraft, they are outside of what we are going to deal with in this work.

In order not to lengthen the history of the war against submarines, we can summarize that contemporary ASW warfare is mainly based on having an aircraft that brings together the greatest number of sensors possible (radar, MAD, sonobuoys, EW equipment, ESM, electro-optical/IR sensors…) and corresponding weaponry (mainly light torpedoes, although air-launched mines can also be an option). To this must be added a series of complements that practically all devices present in pursuit of multitasking, such as anti-surface combat with the use of anti-ship missiles and, if greater versatility is considered, attack weaponry. land. In the latter case, they may be laser- and/or GPS-guided bombs, air-to-ground missiles such as the Maverick or even long-range cruise missiles such as the JASSM, which can convert an anti-submarine combat aircraft into a small strategic bomber. All of this provides employment flexibility to modest air forces, as we will see later, which is very important.

And this is where the most fervent news takes us, to the model that today is located at the highest part of the pyramid of anti-submarine warfare, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. It must be recognized that, despite its short service history, the P-8 is currently the greatest exponent of multitasking. For the US Navy, it has become one of its most in-demand units, and all of this is for exhibiting a whole range of capabilities, including sea control (both on the surface and below it, that is, ASuW and ASW warfare). ), electronic and signals intelligence (also replaces the EP-3), surface radar surveillance, both maritime and even on land. This last capacity, by the way, will be exponentially increased when the integration of the new AAS (Advanced Airborne Sensor) pod is completed, which is an improved version of the AN/APS-149 LSRS (Littoral Surveillance Radar System) that serves in the P -3 Orion. Finally, it also allows search and rescue (SAR) tasks to be carried out and all this without forgetting that new challenges are continually sought for the device, in what is a constant evolution of both technique and tactics.

Despite its high acquisition cost, the Boeing P-8 Poseidon not only allows for longer patrols at higher altitudes, but also has a series of features and equipment that today make it unbeatable. Photo – US Navy.

For its crews, this effort is proving to be a long-distance race, the purpose of which is to adapt to an operational environment that changes day after day, although it is also true that the device is a RollsRoyce compared to its predecessor, which results in a staff more rested and relaxed for missions that can last more than 12 hours. Based on this point, in an interview, a crew member of the VP-5 Squadron declared that it was a true satisfaction to be able to prepare an espresso coffee at 12.000 m altitude, allowing unprecedented relaxation during breaks between watches.

If we compare it with its predecessor, the P-3 Orion, the Poseidon offers greater autonomy, flying for missions of more than 11 hours and returning with sufficient fuel reserve. This is in part because it is capable of flying higher (in fact in this aspect it does not differ from its civilian 737 counterparts), and because the flight at these heights is much more comfortable, both for the crew, who will arrive less stressed. to the control or combat zone, as well as to the cell itself, with all that it entails for maintenance and fatigue throughout its useful life.

These missions will be completed shortly, since the device is beginning to be qualified to refuel in the air. Therefore, it is likely that their missions will become similar in duration to those of the E-3 Sentry AWACS. Furthermore, its engines allow it to reach the patrol area in less time thanks to a higher maximum speed (and also cruising speed), reducing reaction times to any potential enemy.

A fact that usually goes unnoticed, and commented on in various interviews with P-8 crew members, is that this new device is capable of monitoring the work of more sonobuoys than the Orions (although the total number remains classified), which is a characteristic notable, since in this way control panels of larger dimensions than those currently used can be “planted.” They also declare that the work of the cabin crew is more efficient, as the positions are much better distributed and they enjoy more fluid and faster internal communications than in previous devices.

In addition to this equipment, another important system that it mounts is the AN/AYP-10 radar, capable of providing SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) readings to generate long-distance images of ports, military installations, air bases, etc. It also allows ISAR (Inverse Synthetic Aperture Radar) readings, which provide two-dimensional representations of the target, and therefore can be used to identify vessels at long distances or classify contacts since it has proven capable of accurately determining the length of a vessel, position of their masts, etc. It also has a navigation mode that reports on weather conditions, or allows you to focus the wave beam in search of objects with small radar reflection, such as submarine periscopes.

To visually identify contacts at shorter distances, it is equipped with an EO/IR sensor. This is used to scan both the sea surface (it is capable of detecting the thermal signature of a submarine submerged a few meters from the surface or the body heat of a person in the middle of the sea), and for land targets, which is very useful for following targets such as the famous pick-ups often used by terrorists. It also allows, from a safe distance, to observe the navigation of suspicious vessels, such as the famous "dhow" that sail in the Indian Ocean and are used for all types of smuggling. In fact, numerous vessels of this type have been intercepted loaded with assault rifles, ammunition and anti-tank or anti-ship missiles, which were heading towards Yemen, almost certainly coming from Iranian ports.

The interior of the P-8 allows the operators who work in it to work in optimal conditions even despite the duration of the patrols, which is longer than in devices such as the P-3 Orion. Source – US Navy.

Curiously, unlike other devices dedicated to anti-submarine combat, the Poseidon does not have a MAD (Magnetic Anomaly Detector), except for the variant acquired by India and called P-8I. The reason given is that, due to the mission profiles, the device is not intended to be used in low-altitude flights such as when operating with the MAD to detect submarines, in addition to the fact that this equipment has a very limited range and in the US Navy It was practically out of use. Other authors maintain that, although at present it is something relatively anecdotal, in the future we will see more submarines armed with short-range anti-aircraft missiles, which would make it dangerous to fly at low altitude, as we say, the only profile in which this can be used. equipment. We must say that there are also rumors that claim that the US Navy has even tested the launch of an SM6 from a torpedo tube of a Virginia Class submersible...

On the other hand, although it has been published that the electronic suite is the AN/ALQ-240, the ESM (Electronic Surveillance Mesures) equipment remains classified, although there is no doubt that it will carry the latest developments. This is because its missions include capturing and deciphering radar signals from commercial and military ships, aircraft and ground facilities, all at the greatest possible distance. There is even speculation about the possibility of geolocating emissions from SAM installations, surface ships or submarines and all this passively by triangulating the signals obtained from other aircraft operating in a network.

All the data obtained by the different sensors can be shared with the command center on the ground or other aircraft through the use of the secure Link 11 and 16 systems. In fact, they are currently working hand in hand very effectively with the enormous MQ-4C Triton UAVs, which offer much greater autonomy, and do not present the handicap resulting from crew fatigue (operators on the ground thousands of kilometers away can be relieved in shifts). With respect to data links, the advantage of the Poseidon lies in the ability to share data instantly. Its operators say that for commanders, live video transmission via Link 16 to any part of the globe and in encrypted form is essential for live decision making, something that was not possible in the previous class. Evidently, upon reaching land and transmitting, the valuable information could have been outdated.

Given the capabilities that the Poseidon presents, without any doubt it will be classified by a potential enemy as a high-value target, and for this reason it has been equipped with state-of-the-art defensive equipment, such as a DIRCM/GPTA (Directional IR Countermeasures/Guardian Pointer Tracker) that can be used against both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles used by a fighter, using a laser beam to disrupt the enemy projectile's search system. There is no shortage of other ECM measures against radar-guided missiles, as well as flare and chaff launchers. It is also equipped with a dry fire extinguishing system, capable of detecting small flames or explosions throughout the cell and acting accordingly, eradicating in milliseconds the threat that a fire caused by the impact of a projectile may pose.

The Poseidon has been conceived to go beyond traditional maritime patrol. Photo – Boeing.

The Boeing P-8 Poseidon in service

The device appears to be performing very effectively during operational deployments. In his first missions, despite flying for long periods over the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Strait of Oman or the Persian Gulf, all of them places characterized by strong winds and sand storms, as well as over areas desert, achieved 95% operability. As you can imagine, the main threats are sand, salt and high temperatures. These are factors that, as the reader knows, very negatively affect any electronic equipment. The temperatures sometimes forced some non-essential systems to be turned off in order not to damage the boards and other components. And as necessity creates virtue, the ground maintenance teams developed, together with Boeing, a cooling system that allowed fresh air from outside to be brought from one of the sonobuoy launch tubes to the electronic equipment. We assume that in the North Atlantic this problem would have been secondary, but in the area in which it had to operate it was a problem that should not have been neglected.

It has also provided escort tasks for allied ships transiting conflict points, such as the coasts of the Middle East, offering situational awareness in real time, which provides very valuable time when making the appropriate decisions for each of the possible potentially dangerous situations. In this area, the waters have a relatively shallow average depth, which causes a significant amount of environmental noise, making the job of passively discerning the acoustic signals of the submerged contacts extremely difficult. Radar is also not very useful in an area where there are hundreds of small fishing boats, so the radar echo from a periscope can go completely unnoticed among the tangle of wave returns that occur in such situations. All in all, its performance has been remarkable.

Another potential situation that the P-8 are currently training is the integration with the Battle Groups that lead the aircraft carriers or other task groups such as the ARG (Amphibious Ready Group) of the USMC, or the Destroyer Squadron that are They form with the union of 3 or 4 destroyers and/or cruisers. At the beginning of the program, given the lack that the US Navy suffered from a long-range anti-submarine warfare aircraft since the retirement of the Lockheed S-2008 Viking in 3 (currently the Embarked Air Wings only have a small detachment of 4 or 5 Sikorsky MH-60R on the aircraft carrier and the same number deployed on the destroyers or cruisers that are part of its escort), he intended to assign a Poseidon detachment to each of the CSG (Carrier Strike Group) deployed throughout The balloon.

However, operational experience has shown that it is more effective to provide direct support to ships depending on the theater in which they are deployed, improving aircraft availability as potential threats arise. In addition, we work hand in hand with the helicopters of each Embarked Air Wing, operating as a kind of communication node between the various naval and air units. On the other hand, in the event of combat this would provide additional attack resources (let's think that today a helicopter carries between 2 and 4 torpedoes at most).

Unlike in the Middle East, where the distances from potential rivals are relatively close, in the Pacific things are different. Here we talk about what the commanders call the “tyranny of distance”, which requires them to maintain a series of friendly relations with allied or sympathetic governments, and work together with their own FAS to provide the appropriate umbrella. That is why the detachments of Poseidon aircraft by the US Navy increase day after day, which has led these devices to carry out missions in Japan, Singapore, Brunei, Thailand... and with all of them ASW, AsuW missions have been practiced eSR, all of this in a defensive arc that tries to set limits on the Chinese Government and its increasingly daring and ambitious Navy. For this reason, one of the aspects that has stood out the most has been to display the American flag in the surroundings of the numerous artificial islands that China has been “planting” in the South China Sea.

The P-8 is demonstrating high availability despite operating in complex scenarios, such as the Middle East, where environmental conditions are not suitable. Photo – US Navy.

Poseidon's trident

Since we have already partially talked about its combat capabilities, we are going to briefly study its attack capabilities.

The device has five anchor points in the hold (normally used for Mk-54 torpedoes) and another six under the wings that are currently used to carry the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles (theoretically it could also use the AGM-84H /K SLAM-ER). Both are veteran and well-known weapons, so much so that even the system operators themselves declare that the Harpoon has been an excellent weapon, but it has become outdated, since today it cannot provide the necessary precision to operate safely in saturated areas. with multiple civil contacts (such as the Persian Gulf).

However, and it is something that no one can be surprised by, the US Navy has recently declared its intention to convert the P-8, a device that already has multiple tasks assigned to it, into an even more versatile model, which will be done through the expansion of its arsenal. Although there are numerous munitions that they want to incorporate, it must be remembered that as soon as the first examples entered service, they stated that a priority objective of the program was the introduction of the HAAWC (High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability) weapons system.

We are in front of what is undoubtedly a true force multiplier, as we will see below. It is a revolutionary system, which, like the SDB bombs, is based on attaching a set of folding wings to the body of a Mk-54 torpedo, with which it is intended to exponentially increase both the altitude at which the projectile can be launched, as is its range. It must be remembered that the Mk-54 torpedo has a launch height restricted to a maximum of 100 feet, about 30 m.

When this system is added, it is possible to launch it at more than 30000 feet, about 9.150 m high or, in other words, the usual flight height of the P-8. The set consists of the aforementioned folding wing kit, a flight control computer and a GPS system. Once launched, the wings deploy to, through directed gliding, increase the flight time to a pre-established point where the torpedo detaches from its wings and falls towards the water surface, slowed by a parachute.

Once underwater, the Mk-54 begins hunting for the target using its own sensors. Furthermore, it is expected that in the future a communication system (data-link) will be incorporated, which will allow updates to the preset flight route or even change objectives, amplifying the chances of success in confrontations against multiple contacts immersed in an attack. coordinated between the different platforms (surface ships, UCAVs, other submarines...) in what has been called a dynamic confrontation scenario. This fact is not only beneficial for reusing a weapon already launched, which would be hopelessly lost in other cases, but also allows greater flexibility to the operators on board the P-8, maximizing the use of the limited number of torpedoes on board, given that the priority of the targets can change as the battle evolves. In addition, it provides this aircraft with the ability to act as a tactical reserve for other fixed or rotary wing aircraft, and even with the corresponding data exchange links, it would also be really useful for allied submarines, acting as an ultra torpedo -long-range.

Another advantage of the HAAWC is in the premise of “stand-off” attacks, increasing the survivability of own aircraft in scenarios against multiple threats, in which it may be the case that an opposing submarine may be protected by other forces. These can be frigates or destroyers, the embarked air wing of an aircraft carrier, or in the case of operating in waters near the coast, by anti-aircraft defenses or interceptor fighters, as part of area denial or counter-incursion strategies.

As we have mentioned, it also facilitates flight at a higher altitude and speed, when normally in ASW war aircraft the greatest risk is a consequence of having to fly at sea level and at low speed. Although it partially moves away from the topic discussed in this work, it would undoubtedly be interesting to adapt this system to launch from VLS of the Mk-41 type, which would increase the distances at which to attack submerged targets from frigates or destroyers to much further than that allow until now the ASROC, and even the land-based variants of coastal defense. An example on which to base the interesting concept developed between Boeing and Saab in which SDBs are provided with rocket propulsion so they can be launched from an MRLS.

In a more or less near future, this kit could be applied to other disciplines, for example to future submersible drones that can be launched from much greater distances or to sonobuoys, with which to “weave” a much larger network of sensors and in a remarkably short time. lower, since the aircraft would not have to fly over the marked points to launch one of said sonobuoys, as is currently done in a traditional way, that is, in the vertical flight of the device.

Speaking about future versatility, currently and within the US Navy, it can be said that two currents of thought coexist regarding what the future of this maritime patrol aircraft should be. On the one hand we have the school that we could call classical. This maintains that the maritime patrol community should remain restricted to the traditional Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW) and sea control roles, leaving other tasks in the hands of more suitable or specific platforms. On the other hand, there would be the revolutionaries, who intend to convert the P-8 into a pseudo-bomber, capable of providing air support, CAS, reconnaissance or even long-range attack using cruise missiles.

It is appropriate, at this point, to make a small aside; There are those who maintain that the French have been pioneers in the use of a maritime patrol aircraft as an attack aircraft in recent years, and while it is true that the Atlantique 2 have been used by France for CAS through the use of GBU bombs, 12 during operations in Mali, we can go back in time to 1991, when the S-3 Viking used cluster bombs, conventional bombs and even Maverick missiles to attack Iraqi forces, destroying vehicles or SAM positions.

Returning to the conflicting points of view within the US Navy, it is the second option that is taking the lead. In January 2020, NAVAIR (Naval Air Systems Command) proclaimed the intention to dramatically expand the P-8A's weapons arsenal, starting with what is becoming the US Navy's favorite munition, the AGM anti-ship cruise missile. -158C LRASM.

US Navy operators install an AGM-84D Harpoon missile on a P-8A Poseidon at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. Source – US Navy

All without neglecting other munitions, such as Quickstrike ER long-range naval mines (also equipped with a deployable wing kit, and which are being tested with the USAF B-52H), smart bombs (both laser-guided and GPS-guided). combined) with weights from 500 to 2000 pounds (especially JDAM and GBU-53B SDB II) or MALD (Miniature Air Launched Decoy) decoys. To this end, it issued an RFI (Request for Information) to the US Military Industries, requesting from potential contractors the necessary experience, resolution and knowledge of the systems involved with the objective of developing the software and equipment necessary for the integration into the set of weapons that make up the Poseidon.

It can be noted the importance that the LRASM will acquire in the near future within the US Navy, and for this it is worth highlighting that if in the 2016 budgets the US Navy required funds to acquire 88 anti-ship missiles , in the FY2021 needs, presented just a few weeks ago, this number multiplied almost tenfold to 850 units.

Another important piece of equipment that can play a crucial role in the future are the Quickstrike family mines (models Mk-62, Mk-63 and Mk-65), as they allow a distributed response in any maritime conflict since, without having to physically attack a target. In this sense, they can close a naval base or a civilian port to traffic, or at least slow down their operations by establishing fields of submerged mines at exits or passageways, at relatively affordable costs and even better, from a distance. safely, through equipment that is given high precision, being able to submerge the mine in very specific coordinates.

In the same way we can mention the GBU-53B SDB II Stormbraker, or the JDAM, but in this case the objectives will be located on land (although they can also be used as anti-ship ammunition) and can be used even against multiple moving targets under any conditions. weather, such as a massive attack by small boats such as those in the hands of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. These ammunition can be the ideal substitute for the AGM-65 that the P-3 Orion used for this task, with the advantage that given the small size of the Stormbraker, the latter allow several ammunition to be placed in each of the pylons it occupied. previously a single Maverick.

Another of the most interesting complements for the future is undoubtedly represented by the MALD (Miniature Air Launched Decoy), which will allow any mission to be carried out by confusing the enemy defenses by disturbing their emissions or causing their saturation, since the external pylons will be able to transport a significant number of these Electronic Warfare drones, with which the P-8 with its set of sensors could be used as a kind of “Wild Weased”.

Despite all the advances and weapons in development that will end up being integrated into the P-8, it is striking that at the moment there is no official confirmation of the integration of one of the equipment that would provide greater freedom and precision to an attack aircraft, as is the AN/AAQ-33 Sniper pod. We must not forget that this is used by practically the entire US arsenal and that it would also provide the possibility of self-designating targets, allowing the use of economical munitions such as APKWS rockets, or the more forceful AGM-65K guidance rockets. laser and which have been put back into production due to growing demand.

In any case, and without a doubt, all these additions will arouse the interest of current users, since they will undoubtedly be willing to improve their Poseidon with new weapons and equipment, especially if this means, in global terms, savings, when replacing other platforms. Let us remember that the P-8, despite its high cost, is a true export success; The Indian Navy has 8 of the P-8I variant in service and has ordered another 4 (and with the intention of expanding the fleet by at least another 6 examples), Australia has 12 operational, Norway has signed for 5 examples, 4 for New Zealand , 6 for South Korea and the British RAF was delivered a few days ago the first of 9 contracted copies (which could be more in the future).

The Poseidon can provide more than interesting versatility to its respective users, especially for those so-called “expeditionary” countries such as Australia or the United Kingdom. With the improvements planned by the US Navy, it can become an excellent force multiplier. Let's think for a moment what it could mean for an Air Force like the RAF, lacking a bomber since the 80s, if this device is armed with a long-range cruise missile, such as the AGM-158 or better yet, the Storm Shadow that they already have in service. Not in vain, it may be more economical to operate than sending 6 EF-2000 or F/A-18F SuperHornet, in the Australian case, armed with a similar number of cruise munitions, and it also has a much greater autonomy, which It creates less dependence on bases close to the places of action, or on the departures of tanker aircraft that support the attack force. For a scenario like Afghanistan or Iraq, where there is no risk of encountering enemy aircraft or high-altitude air defense systems, a P-8 can remain in flight for 8 or 10 hours providing CAS to nearby troops from a comfortable cruising altitude at 30 or 40.000 feet, launching precision munitions such as JDAM or SDB to the points marked by controllers on the ground.

The Kawasaki P-1 is the only device that can be compared to the Poseidon today. Photo – US Navy.

Beyond the Boeing P-8 Poseidon

Oddly enough, there is currently only one program worth mentioning and comparable to the P-8; This is the Japanese Kawasaki P-1, the only device currently manufactured designed specifically for anti-submarine warfare (remember that the P-8 is derived from the Boeing 737). Little is known about this system, but we can highlight that it is considered a strategic resource for the Japanese Government, which decided, at the beginning of the 2000s, to develop the device as a substitute for its more than 120 P-3Js for 80 new ones. indigenously designed aircraft. They currently have more than thirty of them in service, and during joint exercises with the US Navy they have declared their satisfaction with the use, while the Americans themselves have stated that the P-1 is a very advanced model and that it has many similarities. with their own Poseidon.

This device has greater autonomy, a larger hold, as a result of its specific design, and more external pylons, up to 8. In fact, several countries have closely studied this aircraft and the United Kingdom itself before acquiring the P- 8 was considering the possibility of joining the Japanese program and manufacturing its own devices. New Zealand also requested exhaustive information a few years ago, and the Japanese Government itself has offered it to France (to replace its Atlantique) and Germany (as a replacement for its second-hand P-3C). However, as is often the norm with Japanese weapons systems, based on the offer presented to New Zealand a few years ago, the P-1 is even more expensive than the American P-8.

In addition to these two models, in the rest of the world the anti-submarine device par excellence continues to be the P-3 Orion, and in fact, due to the entry into service of the two previous devices, there is beginning to be a growing international interest in acquiring copies. decommissioned Japanese or Americans, which still have a significant remaining number of hours in their cells and with appropriate modernization could provide a more than interesting option for many countries, including Spain. For example, Lockheed offers new wings for modernizations and Chile has chosen this option to maintain its devices until 2030. In addition, there are numerous companies in the international market that offer updates for their electronic systems.

As for our closest environment, we have seen the countries that have selected the P-8 in Europe, while Germany plans to keep its eight P-3Cs acquired second-hand from Holland for a few more years, where the 4 Portuguese examples also come from. currently in service, which are complemented by 5 CASA C-295MPA Persuader. Greece, for its part, is in the process of modernizing its 9 copies. Italy decommissioned its Atlantique, which were replaced by 6 new ATR P-72A ASW with the Thales AMASCOS (Airborne Maritime Situation and Control System) combat system. Turkey also operates 8 similar aircraft, to which are added 5 CN-235MPA also with the AMASCOS.

France remains irreducible and continues to operate around twenty modernized Atlantique 2s on several occasions, being used as we have seen previously, in addition to patrol aircraft, as long-range bombers based on 4 GBU-12s mounted in the internal hold. In addition, they are testing the use of AASM gliding bombs. On the first occasions they had to rely on target designation from another aircraft, but they have incorporated Wescam MX-20 systems, which allow them to operate autonomously in the designation of their own targets. For naval combat they have MU-90 torpedoes (it can mount up to 8 in its internal hold) or Exocet anti-ship missiles. Despite being up to date in equipment - in fact they are being updated under what is known as Standard 6 -, in a few years a replacement will have to arrive, and for this there are two options; a very real one based on using the Dassault Falcon platform (in its Falcon 2000, Falcon 7x or 8x models) or the utopian Airbus one based on a 320 model.

CASA C-295 MPA Persuader in service with the Portuguese Air Force. Photo – Adrian Pingstone.

And Spain?

Well, despite what we fans of these topics wish or want for our FAS, the truth is that the future looks quite bleak. The handful of P-3s in service are dying their last throes And the worst thing is that a substitute is not even contemplated.

As we have seen, the ideal would be to go for the best on the market, but given the pro-European drift that the last governments have presented, it is doubtful that they will decide to acquire the P-8 (the same has happened with the F-35). . Nor does it seem likely to opt for what would undoubtedly be the most economical and interesting idea for the EdA; the acquisition of 5 or 6 units of second-hand ex-Us Navy P-3s, which could be updated here with a contained investment. Therefore, the options are clear; Either we get on the unfeasible bandwagon of the Airbus A320ASW, which I believe will never see the light of day, or the future of the EdA is based on the C-295 Persuader platform, which will not offer the same flight possibilities as the P-3. , neither in autonomy, nor in persistence. What's worse, it will also not offer the necessary flight safety with a failed engine. The good thing about this device is that it is in service in a few countries (Portugal, Chile...) and with satisfactory results. Furthermore, it is still an aircraft “ours” and well known by the EdA, which could create synergies with the C-295 transport in service.

Another option could be to acquire UCAVs, for example the General Atomics Sea Guardian, a variant of the MQ-9B Reaper that is equipped with a naval search radar and sonobuoys in a pod under the fuselage. It will certainly be expensive to purchase, but cheaper to operate than a conventional aircraft. The main handicap would come from the fact of being the guinea pigs of a system like this, something that is not typical of our country.

Despite everything, as I have said, there is a very dark future for anti-submarine warfare in Spain. I am very afraid that it could even be done as with so many other capacities in recent times; cancel her and not look for a replacement. And for that it is better that the last one close the door and turn off the light.

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2 Comments

  1. Unfortunately, we will lose the P-3 sooner rather than later without a high-level replacement, leaving us without those capabilities. I believe that this capability should pass to the Navy (Rota) and the EA should acquire the C-AEW capability, but it is impossible given the limited resources dedicated to national defense.

  2. There is nothing ideal when the lack of budget is total, it is impossible to have the necessary capabilities of an "average vehicle" when the most we get is a 30-year-old vehicle, without ABS, or power steering, without a catalyst, etc. It is simply impossible for us to maintain many capacities that we currently hold.

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