Navy P-8A Poseidon Expanding Operations in Asia
By: Dzirhan Mahadzir
February 14, 2018 11:48 AM
SINGAPORE — Following its inaugural deployment to the Asia-Pacific, the U.S Navy’s P-8A Poseidon Patrol Squadron 16 has been playing a key role not only in regard to operations in the region but also in cooperation and engagement activities with U.S partner nations.
In March 2014, two P-8 Poseidons were involved in the search for missing Malaysian Airlines flight MH370, along with two P-8I Poseidons of the Indian Navy. Although the search ultimately proved futile, the capability of the Poseidon was highlighted in the search. The Royal Australian Air Force became the third Poseidon operator in globally. Both the U.S and Australia have been conducting various engagements, the latest of this was during the recently concluded 2018 Singapore Air Show where a U.S. P-8 of VP-8 and an RAAF P-8 of No. 11 Squadron were present. USNI News spoke to Lt. Cmdr. Karl Murray, mission lead for the crew for the U.S. P-8 Poseidon of VP 8 in regard to an operator’s perspective on the squadron’s current deployment which is for a period of six months involving seven aircraft and approximately 270 personnel deployed to Kadena Airbase, Okinawa.
https://news.usni.org/2018/02/14/navy-p-8a-poseidon-expanding-operations-asia
