Navy to order 29 new P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jets for U.S. and Australia

U.S. Navy surveillance aircraft experts are making plans to order 29 new Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol jets for U.S. and Australian military forces.

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., awarded a $358.9 million contract to the Boeing Co. in Seattle for long-lead items for nine Navy lot II P-8As; 16 Navy lot III P-8As; and four Royal Australian Air Force lot III P-8As.

Long-lead items involve system components that require the longest time to build, which could delay overall system production if money isn't allocated for production early in the process.

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