Spirit AeroSystems Begins Work On Australian Boeing P-8A Aircraft

Spirit AeroSystems has started the production of the Royal Australian Air Force's (RAAF) first P-8A aircraft.

Spirit started production on the 737 military derivatives in October. The first unit is scheduled to deliver to Boeing in early 2016 with major assembly now underway, the company announced Friday.

"Spirit has a capability to build military specific aircraft in the same 737 commercial production line that is producing 42 airplanes a month.” Duane Hawkins, Spirit senior vice president of Boeing, Defense & Regional Jet Programs said.

The P-8A program is using a first-in-industry production process and its existing Next-Generation 737 production system to efficiently design and build P-8 aircraft. The company is responsible for building 70 percent of the 737 aircraft.

The 737-800 fuselage receives military specific in-line modifications before it is sent to Boeing's final assembly facility in Renton, Wash., where all aircraft structural features unique to the P-8A are incorporated in sequence during fabrication and assembly. AIRCDRE Adam Brown visited Spirit to see the in-line modifications on the first Australian P-8A.

"Our new P-8 will be the first of a new generation of maritime surveillance for Australia, said RAAF Air Commodore Adam Brown.

Australia has agreed to purchase eight P-8A aircraft. The US Navy is currently under contract with Boeing for 62 P-8As to replace its P-3 fleet and has delivered 31 aircraft to date.

Boeing has also completed its initial contract with India to provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian Navy.