Australia nears decisions on Boeing P-8A, BAMS participation

The US Navy has confirmed ongoing negotiations with Australia to join the Boeing P-8A programme, while a separate decision on taking a similar role in its Broad Area Maritime Surveillance (BAMS) effort is also imminent.

The long-awaited memorandum of understanding on the P-8A, if approved, would allow Australian military and industry personnel to participate in the development of the Spiral 1 version of the 737-based anti-submarine warfare and maritime patrol aircraft, says Capt Bob Dishman, the USN's BAMS programme manager.

Boeing is scheduled to deliver the first Spiral 1 aircraft to the USN under a $150 million upgrade package in 2015, two years after a version with a baseline mission system based on the 2004 configuration of its Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion fleet enters service.

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