Boeing Australia tapped for P-8A sustainment services

CANBERRA, Australia, Oct. 17 (UPI) -- Boeing Australia is to provide sustainment support for P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft flown by the Royal Australian Air Force.

Australia's Department of Defense said that under a contract with the company the services will occur over the next four years.

The government was quoted as saying the contract will result in local jobs.

"Developing this kind of indigenous capability -- where we can maintain our own military hardware -- is critical for our national security and is good for Australian jobs," said Defense Industry Minister Christopher Pyne.

"The P-8A is a world-class maritime patrol and response aircraft and Australian Defense industry support will be a critical enabler to our military's operational capability in the region."

The P-8A from Boeing is used for anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, shipping interdiction and electronic signals intelligence missions. It has a maximum speed of more than 500 miles per hour and a combat radius of 1,200 nautical miles.