U.K. to purchase P-8A Poseidon aircraft

LONDON, July 12 (UPI) -- The U.K. Ministry of Defense plans to purchase nine P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for the Royal Air Force, the MOD announced Monday.

The new aircraft will be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland and will play a role in protecting the U.K.'s nuclear assets and two new aircraft carriers, the ministry said in a statement.

The Poseidons will be able to locate and track hostile submarines, and will enhance the U.K.'s search and rescue capability.

It is also expected to add an additional 400 personnel to the Lossiemouth base.

Manufactured by Boeing, the Poseidons are being purchased through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

It will cost about $3.9 billion over the next decade to cover capability development and delivery, including paying for the personnel, training, infrastructure and support at Lossiemouth.

The Posiedon can fly long range without refueling and can handle high- and low-level airborne maritime and overland surveillance.

It can also conduct wide-area searches of open ocean to locate small boats and drop rescue rafts and equipment to those in distress.