The Royal Air Force has announced that the fifth Poseidon MRA Mk.1 submarine fighter aircraft landed safely and soundly at RAF Lossiemouth on February 2nd.
As the Royal Air Force notes, this is the first time an RAF Poseidon has been shipped straight from the Boeing facility near Seattle without stopping along the way.
The plane, named Fulmar, flew direct from Boeing Field near Seattle.
His arrival marks another milestone in the development of Lossiemouth’s Maritime Patrol capability and is at a time of unprecedented submarine activity near British waters. Poseidon MPA can react quickly to track potential threats over large areas of the sea or ocean and defend our own submarine fleet.
The name Fulmar is a nod to RAF Lossiemouth’s naval past. Between 1946 and 1972 the station was called HMS Fulmar, named after a robust sea bird.
A Poseidon commander said: “Monitoring and tracking all marine activity in the UK is of paramount importance to our safety. The arrival of this latest aircraft helps ensure that we continue to be able to defend our waters and support our NATO partners. “
Boeing’s Poseidon MRA1 (P-8A) is a multipurpose patrol aircraft equipped with sensors and weapon systems for anti-submarine defense and surveillance, search and rescue missions. It has an APY-10 radar for high resolution mapping, an acoustic sensor system, an electro-optical / IR tower, and electronic support measures (ESM).
The aircraft can also be equipped with a weapon system that includes torpedoes for attacking underground targets.
Nine Poseidon MRA Mk.1 aircraft have been ordered for the Royal Air Force and the addition of ZP805 will exceed the fleet number past the half-time mark. The UK government has invested a total of £ 470 million in RAF Lossiemouth, which will carry out future proofed rapid reaction alarms and sea patrol operations for many years to come.
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