- 'Game-changing' submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA Maritime Patrol Aircraft lands at Kinloss Barracks, Moray
- Aircraft is in fleet of nine being brought in through £3bn Ministry of Defence nuclear deterrent investment
- Plane was flown to Scotland from Naval Air Station Jacksonville and will later move to RAF Lossiemouth
- State-of-the art aircraft are intended to enhance the UK's ability to track hostile maritime targets
The first of a fleet of submarine-hunting planes touched down in Scotland today after being flown from the US, escorted by two RAF Eurofighter Typhoons.
The Poseidon MRA Maritime Patrol Aircraft landed at Kinloss Barracks in Moray - part of a fleet of nine aircraft being brought in through a £3billion Ministry of Defence nuclear deterrent investment.
The aircraft was flown to Scotland from Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida and will be based at Kinloss Barracks before moving ten miles along the coast to RAF Lossiemouth when facilities there are ready.
The state-of-the art planes are intended to enhance the UK's ability to track hostile maritime targets, protect the country's continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent and play a central role in Nato missions across the North Atlantic.
The UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA Maritime Patrol Aircraft arrives at Kinloss Barracks in Moray today, escorted by two RAF Eurofighter Typhoons after crossing the Atlantic from Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida
Crew members, local dignitaries, a piper and senior officers stand for a photograph after the aircraft arrives at Kinloss today
The Poseidon, pictured arriving at Kinloss Barracks in Moray after crossing the Atlantic from NAS Jacksonville today, is part of a fleet of nine aircraft being brought in through a £3billion Ministry of Defence nuclear deterrent investment
Squadron Leader Mark Faulds (second right) laughs with a piper after the Poseidon aircraft arrives at Kinloss Barracks today
Escorted by Eurofighter Typhoon, the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA plane arrives at Kinloss Barracks today
Squadron Leader Stuart 'Roxy' Roxburgh (left), who flew the RAF's last-ever Nimrod plane from the base, takes a selfie with Squadron Leader Mark Faulds who flew in the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA to Kinloss Barracks today
The UK's first submarine-hunting P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft arrives at Kinloss Barracks in Moray today
The new Poseidon aircraft for the RAF features two 27,000lb st (120kN) CFM International CFM56-7 turbofan engines
Poseidon is designed to carry out extended surveillance missions at varying altitudes, and is equipped with cutting-edge sensors which uses high-resolution area mapping to find both surface and sub-surface threats.
Described as a 'game-changing' submarine-hunting jet, it will also be armed with Harpoon anti-surface ship missiles and Mk 54 torpedoes capable of attacking both surface and sub-surface targets.
SHARE THIS ARTICLE
Last October, the first in the fleet was flown to Naval Air Station Jacksonville in Florida where RAF personnel are being trained to operate the aircraft, following an unveiling ceremony in Seattle.
The first of the planes, which could be used to keep Britain safe from Russian President Vladmir Putin's ballistic missile-armed undersea fleet, has now arrived in the UK, and the remainder will be delivered by November 2021.
The plane is thought to have been built from the fuselage of Boeing's 737-800 and the wings of its 737-900.
Watched by Squadron Leader Mark Higgins from 120 Squadron, Squadron Leader Mark Faulds from 54 Squadron reaches out to touch the plane's name at Kinloss Barracks after they flew in the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA today
Escorted by two RAF Eurofighter Typhoons, the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA arrives at Kinloss Barracks today
A member of the ground crew holds a set of chocks for the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA plane today
Crew members disembark at Kinloss Barracks in Morayafter arriving in the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA today
A member of the ground crew directs the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA plane at Kinloss Barracks today
Spectators wait for the arrival of the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon MRA plane at Kinloss Barracks in Moray today
Baroness Goldie, Minister of State for Defence, watches as the UK's first submarine-hunting Poseidon PRA arrives today
A crew members looks from a window of the Poseidon MRA as it taxis at Kinloss Barracks after crossing the Atlantic today
Squadron Leader Mark Faulds (second left) poses for a photograph at Kinloss Barracks in Moray after the arrival today
Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, chief of the air staff, said: 'Poseidon is a game-changing maritime patrol aircraft, able to detect, track and if necessary destroy the most advanced submarines in the world today.
'With Poseidon MRA1, I am delighted and very proud that the RAF will once again have a maritime patrol force working alongside the Royal Navy, securing our seas to protect our nation.'
The aircraft will initially be flown by 120 Squadron, while 201 Squadron will join the programme in due course.
The 120 Squadron was originally stood up on January 1, 1918 and was the leading anti-submarine warfare squadron in the Second World War.
First Sea Lord, Admiral Tony Radakin, said: 'Poseidon marks a superb upgrade in the UK's ability to conduct anti-submarine operations.
'This will give the UK the ability to conduct long-range patrols and integrate seamlessly with our Nato allies to provide a world-leading capability.
'This will maintain operational freedom for our own submarines, and apply pressure to those of our potential foes. I look forward to working with the RAF and our international partners on this superb capability.'
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment
How did you like the post, leave a comment. I would appreciate hearing from you all. Best wishes from JC's Naval, Maritime and Military News