Boeing has recently received a $109 million US Navy contract to provide P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft training for the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).
New Zealand is buying four submarine hunters under a March 2020 contract with the US Navy. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2023.
In addition to delivering the aircraft, Boeing will also be in charge of providing a suite of training systems and courseware to prepare RNZAF aircrew and maintainers to safely and effectively operate and maintain the aircraft.
The company’s P-8 training system will enable the RNZAF to conduct up to 70 percent of all Poseidon-related training in a simulated environment. As part of the contract, Boeing will provide an operational flight trainer, a full-motion simulator that incorporates all P-8 unique displays and switches, a weapons tactics trainer and a virtual maintenance trainer. Also included are a scenario generation station for mission training and a brief/debrief station for post-mission analysis and playback.
Boeing also said it would provide initial instructor cadre training to a group of RNZAF instructors, enabling them to continue training additional RNZAF P-8A instructors and aircrews following delivery of the training system in early 2024.
“This holistic training system will enable aircrew to safely train for all aspects of flying and maintaining the P-8A Poseidon,” said Tonya Noble, director of International Defense Training for Boeing. “We look forward to bringing these training capabilities in-country and working alongside the RNZAF to ensure readiness of aircrew and maintenance personnel.”
All training will be conducted at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, which is receiving NZ$206 million worth of upgrades to critical infrastructure ahead of the arrival of the first aircraft.
New Zealand is one of seven nations operating the P-8. Other current or future operators include the US Navy, India, Australia, the UK, South Korea, and Norway.
