By Geoff Fein
Boeing [BA] last week began final assembly of the first P-8A Poseidon to provide increased capability in long-range anti-submarine warfare, anti- surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for the Navy, the company reported.
The start of final assembly follows closely on the heels of Spirit AeroSystems‘ delivery of the first P-8A fuselage to Boeing in Renton, Wash. Mechanics loaded the fuselage into a tooling fixture and began installing systems, wires, tubing and other small parts. Boeing will join the P-8A’s wings to its body later this year.
“The Navy expects us to meet each and every commitment, and achieving this milestone demonstrates that the P-8A team is up to the task, “said Bob Feldmann, Boeing vice president and P-8A program manager. “Our Boeing Commercial Airplanes and Spirit AeroSystems teammates deserve credit for their outstanding performance and teamwork in building the wings and fuselage for the first test aircraft.”
Another unique aspect of the effort is the teamwork between Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Boeing Commercial, Chick Ramey, a Boeing spokesman told Defense Daily.
“It’s a new way of doing business. [We] implemented a lot of the lessons learned and things the commercial side does on the 737,” he said. “We’re able to leverage all those proven efficiencies and the performance of the 737. That helps the program out.”
Boeing Integrated Defense Systems and Boeing Commercial Airplanes are working together to build the P-8A, a military derivative of the 737-800, on a new, third final assembly production line in Renton. Using established best practices and common commercial production system tools enables Boeing to reduce flow-time and cost while ensuring first-pass quality, the company said.
The P-8A is built by a Boeing-led industry team that includes CFM International, Northrop Grumman [NOC], Raytheon [RTN], Spirit AeroSystems and General Electric [GE] Aviation. Under the current system development and demonstration contract, the team will build five test vehicles: three flight-test and two ground-test aircraft. Delivery of the first test aircraft to the Navy and first flight are scheduled for 2009.
“We are building three flight test and two ground test aircraft as part of the SDD (system design and development) program,” Ramey said.
Boeing is currently working on the fuselage for S-1, a static test aircraft, at its Wichita, Kan., facility. S-1 will reach final assembly in the fourth quarter of 2008, Ramey said.
The remaining three aircraft will be completed about a quarter apart, he added. Those are T-2, T-3 and S-2–a fatigue test aircraft, Ramey added.
The Navy plans to purchase 108 P-8As to replace its fleet of P-3C aircraft. Initial operational capability is slated for 2013.