P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft, initial-production long-lead: ~$5.70B — procurement from Boeing (USAspending)
Per USAspending, procurement of long-lead material for the initial production (LRIP) of the maritime patrol aircraft "P-8A Poseidon" was awarded to Boeing. The value is about $5.70 billion ($5,699,021,641), a definitive contract running April 2009–July 2018. Based on the 737 airliner, it supports production of a patrol aircraft handling anti-submarine, anti-surface, and maritime surveillance.
Contract key facts
- RecipientBoeing
- Contract value$5,699,021,641 (≈$5.7B)
- BranchDefense-wide
- Awarding agencyDepartment of Defense
- Awarding sub-agencyDefense Contract Management Agency
- Award typeDEFINITIVE CONTRACT
- Period of performance2009-04-13 〜 2018-07-31
- Contract ID (PIID)N0001909C0022
Contract scope (original)
P-8A LRIP I LONG LEAD MATERIAL
Key points
- Long-lead material for P-8A Poseidon initial production (LRIP) was awarded to Boeing. Cumulative ~$5.70B ($5,699,021,641).
- Definitive contract, performance April 13, 2009 – July 31, 2018.
- The P-8A is a maritime patrol aircraft developed from the 737 airliner (anti-submarine/anti-surface/surveillance).
- "Initial production (LRIP)" — building a small number first to evaluate before full production.
- "Long-lead material" — securing long-to-make components ahead of the main contract (as with the V-22).
- Full production is reached through securing long-lead material, low-rate initial production, and full-rate production.
1The P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft
The P-8A Poseidon is a maritime patrol aircraft that ranges over wide seas for long hours to find submarines and surface ships. Distinctively, its base is the civil Boeing 737 airliner; building on a proven airframe holds down development risk and maintenance burden.
Anti-submarine warfare (searching for and attacking submarines lurking underwater) is a steady, important mission against a vast ocean, and the P-8A is at its core.
2Long-lead material for LRIP
This contract covers the "long-lead material" for that "initial production (LRIP = Low Rate Initial Production)." Procurement passes through initial production (LRIP), building a small number first to evaluate, before moving to full production — the same concept as the E-2D's FRP (full-rate production) and the F-35's LRIP covered on this site.
Further, "long-lead material" secures long-to-make components ahead of the main production contract, as seen in the V-22 and Virginia-class submarine contracts.
3What the public record covers
The description (USAspending) goes as far as "P-8A LRIP I long-lead material" and does not detail airframe counts (this site does not fill in what the description omits). A cumulative ~$5.70B shows a contract supporting the production ramp-up of an aircraft that carries an important Navy mission — maritime patrol.
4The three steps before full production
Procurement does not enter full production directly. Where this contract sits is a stage before that.
- 1Secure long-lead material firstOrder the parts that take time to make, ahead of the main production contract
- 2Low-rate initial productionBuild a small number, put them through operational testing, and surface problems in design and process
- 3Full-rate productionHaving passed that verification, move to a stage where the rate may be raised
What this contract covers is long-lead material for low-rate initial production: the name of the stage and the mechanism of securing material overlap in one award. The P-8A Poseidon patrols wide ocean areas for long periods, searching out submarines and surface ships, and is distinguished by being built on the Boeing 737 airliner. Basing it on a proven airframe holds down both development risk and the burden of maintenance.
Why it matters
Maritime patrol is a steady, important mission against a vast ocean, and the P-8A is at its core. Basing it on the 737 airliner to hold down development and maintenance burden is also notable. The LRIP and long-lead procurement patterns are common to major U.S. equipment, understandable in pairing with the E-2D and V-22 contracts. Useful to readers tracking naval aviation and the defense industry.
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Sources (primary)
This article is an independent organization based on the U.S. official spending data below. Verify the exact, latest details with the official source.
- USAspending (award details)
- Contract ID (PIID)：N0001909C0022