Australian Poseidons on contract

Last month Boeing received the Lot 7 production order for the P-8A Poseidon, covering 16 more aircraft for the U.S. Navy (bringing the contracted total so far to 78) and four more for the Royal Australian Air Force (bringing the contracted total to eight). The first Australian fuselage has just been delivered to the assembly plant and delivery is planned before the year-end. Australia has options for four more, as does India, which completed acceptance of its first eight aircraft last year and is currently in negotiations over taking up its option. The United Kingdom has also announced it is buying nine. Currently the U.S. Navy has taken delivery of 35 Poseidons.