Whidbey base to get 24 Poseidon planes

Aging P-3 Orions being replaced
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island will receive four squadrons -- 24 aircraft -- of the new P-8A Poseidon surveillance and anti-submarine planes, replacing the base's venerable but fast-aging P-3 Orion planes, according to a final environmental impact statement released Friday by the Navy.

Whidbey now has four P-3 squadrons, three active and one reserve. The P-8A Poseidon, also known as the "Multi-Mission Aircraft," or MMA, is projected to start being introduced into the fleet in 2012.

The P-8s are the military version of The Boeing Co.'s 737-800. They are intended to serve as long-range surveillance, anti-submarine and intelligence-gathering aircraft, and they carry anti-submarine missiles, depth charges and other weapons.

Read more