NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. -- The Navy’s new submarine hunting aircraft program has received approval to begin low rate production.

The P-8A program reached Milestone C August 11, after a comprehensive review and subsequent approval by the Defense Acquisition Board. This approval brings the Poseidon one step closer to Initial Operating Capability (IOC) for the fleet in 2013. NAS Jacksonville will host the first operational P-8A squadron.

“The team has worked extremely hard to reach this major acquisition milestone,” said PMA-290 Program Manager Capt. Mike Moran. “The airplane is performing very well in testing which should result in an on-time and on-budget delivery to the warfighters.”

The P-8A will replace the P-3C that has served the Navy since the 1960s as the primary aircraft for anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare.

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Photo

One of the Navy’s new P-8A Poseidon test aircraft turns toward home at NAS Patuxent River, Md. during a test flight. The P-8A program reached Milestone C and is now cleared for low rate production.

U.S. Navy photo