Boeing Targets Boeing P-8 Against Airbus C-295 for U.K. Sub-Hunter Plane

Boeing is pitching its P-8 maritime-patrol aircraft to the U.K. as Airbus promotes an offshoot of its C-295 turbo-propeller transport plane to meet a British aerial submarine-hunting requirement.
"Looking at the strategic needs of the U.K., the P-8 is a natural fit", said director of business development for the Boeing planeThe U.S. and India are already customers for the maritime surveillance version.
The U.K. has a gap in airborne submarine hunting. It canceled the Nimrod MRA4 program in its 2010 defense review after years of delay and cost overruns. The defense ministry has been assessing alternatives in recent months to address capability shortfalls.
The U.K. has dispatched staff to work with other militaries and help preserve maritime patrol skills under an effort called Project Seedcorn. Some of those personnel are serving as instructors with the U.S. Navy on the P-8.
A British program would probably encompass 8 to 12 aircraft, although the final number would depend on the exact requirement. The P-8 used by the U.S. could be adapted to address unique U.K. needs, as was the case with the Indian aircraft.
Airbus would build its proposal around the C-295 military airlifter in a configuration similar to one already in service with the Chilean military.
The big factor favoring the C-295 is its affordability,with a lower purchase and operations cost. The system would include about six workstations. Introducing the aircraft could happen relatively quickly once a decision to purchase is taken.
Lockheed Martin is another likely contestant. The company has said previously it would promote a maritime patrol system based on its C-130 transport plane. Raytheon Co. (RTN), developer of the British Sentinel R1 ground surveillance plane, also is tracking the maritime patrol program.
The company could upgrade the Sentinel to take on some of the surveillance roles.
The U.K. is still studying how to retain the five Sentinel aircraft in its fleet after it they were earmarked for retirement mid-decade in the last defense review.
bloomberg