Most of the work will take place at Boeing’s maintenance, repair and overhaul centre in Jacksonville, Florida, which specialises in servicing the Poseidon fleet. According to the Pentagon, the upgrades on the two aircraft are due to be completed by July 2026.
This marks the second batch of RAAF Poseidon aircraft to be upgraded to the Increment 3 standard. A first contract, covering three aircraft, was awarded in December 2024, with Australia currently the only export operator of this upgrade package.
The Royal Australian Air Force operates twelve P-8A Poseidon aircraft, all delivered by the end of 2019, and ordered two more in December 2020. The Increment 3 modernisation programme is expected to continue until 2030.
The upgrade provides new satellite communications and reconnaissance systems, while also integrating the aircraft with additional weapons. These include the Lockheed Martin AGM-158C Long Range Anti-Ship Missile, which is in the final stages of integration.
