The P-8 is a maritime patrol/anti-submarine warfare aircraft… but in many respects it isn’t far from the airliner based bombers that have been proposed by some.
It includes a bomb bay with five hard points and another 6 external hard points for a total of 11 x 2,000lb weapon stations. Not that impressive compared to a true bomber, but a pretty hefty load by fighter standards, especially when the P-8’s range is taken into account. The P-8 is already capable of carrying land attack cruise missiles (SLAM-ER) and JDAMs, and has a complete (and impressive) suite of sensors, EW/IR countermeasures, coms, etc.
So the question here really isn’t one of whether the P-8 could be adapted for use as a bomber since it already has that capability built in. The question is really whether it would make any sense for someone to use it as one. At a minimum a small fleet of P-8s and a few aerial tankers could offer a contingency long range strike capability with a reach of a few thousand miles. Or, in permissive environments, the P-8 would make a formidable long-loiter ISR/strike/CAS aircraft. Given its commercial heritage it should be an affordable aircraft to operate relative to high performance fighters.
This would hardly be unprecedented given that France used Atlantique maritime patrol aircraft to execute strikes in Mali and the US has used its P-3s (as ISR aircraft) over Afghanistan. This would be essentially the same idea with a much more capable aircraft across the board.
The P-8A is built from the ground up as a military aircraft. It is based on the proven commercial designs of Boeing’s 737-800 fuselage, but is substantially structurally modified to include a bomb bay, under wing and under fuselage hard points for weapons, as well as increased strengthening to allow for continued low level (down to 200ft) operations and 60° angle of bank turns.
An internal fuel capacity of almost 34 tonnes, gives the P-8A an unrefuelled range of over 4000 nautical miles (7,500km) or the ability to remain on station conducting low level Anti Submarine Warfare (ASW) missions for over 4 hours at a range of more than 1,200 nautical miles (2,200 km) from base. The P-8A is also air-to-air refuelable from the boom of tanker aircraft such as the KC-30A, pushing its endurance out to over 20 hours – making it possible to patrol Australia’s isolated Southern Ocean territories.
The P-8A has 11 weapon hard points (five in the bomb bay, four under the wings and two under the fuselage) and can carry over 22,000 pounds (10,000kg) of weapons. All the hard points have digital weapon interfaces. The aircraft has an extensive communications suite of over 10 separate radios and data links across the VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM spectrums.
http://www.airforce.gov.au/Boeing_P8-A_Poseidon/?RAAF-Z4PUOpGXH/eLtWmc6qxYl9xYycb+rKng
In March 2008, Boeing selected L-3 Communications Wescam to supply the MX-20HD digital electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) multispectral sensor turrets for the P-8A Poseidon. MX-20HD is gyro-stabilised and can have up to seven sensors, including infrared, CCDTV, image intensifier, laser rangefinder and laser illuminator.
The aircraft is equipped with the upgraded APS-137D(V)5 maritime surveillance radar and signal intelligence SIGINT system developed by Raytheon. The system was redesignated AN/APY-10 in June 2006. The AN/APY-10 radar is installed on the enlarged nose fairing.
The AN/APY-10 radar provides the synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode capability for imaging, detection, classification and identification of stationary ships and small vessels and for coastal and overland surveillance, as well as the high resolution imaging synthetic aperture radar (ISAR) mode for imaging, detection, classification and tracking of surfaced submarines and small, fast moving vessels that operate in coastal waters.
The SAR provides multiple resolution strip map and spot SAR operation, and allows high resolution for target identification, battle damage assessment and weapons targeting.
Periscope detection uses high scan speeds, high pulse repetition frequency and high resolution mode with advanced sea clutter rejection.
Raytheon is offering the new global positioning system anti-jam, integrated friend or foe and towed decoy self protection suites along with a broadcast information system (BIS) and secure UHF satellite communications.
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Northrop Grumman is supplying the electronic warfare self-protection (EWSP) suite which includes Terma AN/ALQ-213(V) electronic warfare management system (EWMS), Northrop Grumman directional infrared countermeasures (DIRCM) set, Northrop Grumman radar warning system and BAE Systems countermeasures dispenser system.
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October 10, 2013 at 7:26 pm