SA lands ‘eyes in the sky’ defence aircraft at Edinburgh HQ
An imposing final aircraft has joined a vital national defence fleet, touching down in Adelaide’s north. See the pictures.
The fourteenth and final P-8A Poseidon aircraft landed at Edinburgh on Wednesday afternoon, with the Royal Australian Air Force hailing its arrival as marking a new wave in the nation’s defence capabilities.
Air Force Chief Air Marshal Stephen Chappell said the fleet was “critical” to Australia’s anti-submarine warfare, maritime strike, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions.
“By integrating advanced sensors, communications, and strike capabilities, the P-8A Poseidon plays a vital role in supporting Australia’s deterrence-by-denial strategy,” Chappell said.
“[It] underpins our ability to maintain awareness of our maritime domain, and enhances Australia’s capacity to detect, deter and respond to threats across its maritime approaches.”
Chappell said the fleet of planes that measure 39.5 metres long and have a range of 7,500km would “deliver persistent intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance across Australia’s primary area of military interest”.
The 14-aircraft fleet is operated by No. 11, No. 12 and 292 Squadrons from RAAF Base Edinburgh, the RAAF calling the planes “the eyes in the sky over the Indo-Pacific”.
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The arrival of the latest Poseidon comes within a month of a $200 million hangar opening at the Edinburgh base to ensure plane maintenance is kept on shore.
The 240-metre-long air force hub, called the Deep Maintenance and Modification Facility, would maintain the fleet long-term, in partnership with Boeing Defence Australia and other local partners, according to the federal defence department.
Previously, the planes would have been sent offshore for maintenance and upgrades, SA Defence Minister Chris Picton said.
Picton said the national program would “create ongoing, highly-skilled, secure and well paid jobs in our state for decades to come.”
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