Boeing and CAE agreed to collaborate to enhance P-8 training solutions for Canada, Germany, and Norway. (Photo: Wikimedia)
Boeing and CAE have signed teaming agreements to expand multi-mission platform collaboration for the P-8 Poseidon program in Canada, Norway, and Germany. This partnership will capitalize on the strengths of each company to better manage training in a cost-effective manner.
Boeing has developed several successful aircraft programs designed for a variety of industry segments, including commercial aviation and defense. Boeing’s development of commercial aircraft has aided it in creating newer aircraft for various branches of the armed forces, such as the P-8 Poseidon.
This aircraft, which is a modified design of both Boeing’s 737-800 and 737-900 aircraft, provides armed forces across the world with resources to help preserve and protect national security through the addition of several features to the original air frame. For example, the aircraft is equipped with a bomb bay that can carry weapons like free-fall bombs and Raytheon Mark 54 torpedoes. It also features an advanced surveillance radar from Raytheon in its nose fairing.
The P-8 excels specifically in anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, surveillance and search and rescue missions. With a maximum cruising altitude of 41,000 feet and maximum cruising speed of 491 knots, the aircraft can be used in a variety of situations with better performance and reliability than its predecessors. The model has flown over 500,000 flight-hours in countries across the world, and 155 P-8 aircraft are currently in service.
Pictured above, from left to right: Daniel Gelston, CAE Defense & Security president; Torbjorn Sjogren, Boeing vice president and general manager, Government Services; and Marc-Olivier Sabourin, CAE Defense & Security Global vice president and general manager. (Photo: Boeing/CAE)
The P-8 has two different variants. The Indian Navy operates the P-8I, while the more popular P-8A is utilized by the U.S. Navy, the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, the Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Norwegian Air Force, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Agencies like this will benefit from Boeing’s collaboration with CAE.
With this partnership, the two companies will provide teacher training, ground school, and pilot/team training, which will help improve mission readiness for customers. As a strong provider of simulation and in-flight training, CAE will develop a network of simulation and in-service support solutions to assist various defense agencies across the world.
As Torbjorn Sjogren, Boeing’s vice president and general manager of Government Services, explained, “These agreements aim to advance mission readiness for defense customers operating Boeing P-8 aircraft. Working together, Boeing and CAE can deliver outcome-based pilot and aircrew training, maintenance ground school, in-service support, and instructor training at the point of need.”
Given Boeing’s and CAE’s extensive experience in developing reliable defense products and the necessary training infrastructure to support them, the companies are optimistic that their partnership will create value and improved reliability for their customers.