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P-8A Poseidon Increment 1

P-8A Inc 1 baseline configuration and Inc 2 Anti-Submarine Warfare enhancements are fielded in the fleet. The Navy was on track to field Inc 2 High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) in FY 2020, as paced by HAAWC production. P-8A Inc 3 consists of four separate Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) 4-7 which incrementally increases warfighting capability under the P-8A baseline Acquisition Strategy. Inc 3 ECP 4 delivered to the fleet in FY 2018. Inc 3 ECP 5 Net Enabled Weapon/Communications, delivers to the fleet in FY 2020.

The Navy conducted the P-8A Increment 1 FOT&E from October 2013 through March 2014 to evaluate the operational effectiveness and suitability of the integration and employment of the AGM-84D Block 1C Harpoon anti-ship missile system. FOT&E also included evaluation of software improvements intended to correct 17 operationally significant system deficiencies that degraded Anti-Surface Warfare (ASuW); Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR); and Command, Control, and Communication (C3) mission capabilities during IOT&E. Based on FOT&E results, DOT&E concluded that the P-8A Increment 1 system provides an operationally effective armed ASuW mission capability to detect, classify, and track maritime surface targets and engage them using the AGM-84D Block 1C Harpoon anti-ship missile. System software changes improved overall surface target search, classification, and tracking capabilities as compared to observed IOT&E performance.

Based on FOT&E results, the P-8A Increment 1 system did not yet provide an operationally effective ISR mission capability. System software improvements corrected several high-priority sensor integration problems and improved imagery dissemination capabilities. However, persistent synthetic aperture radar (SAR) image quality problems, unresolved electronic intelligence collection deficiencies, and data dissemination limitations continue to degrade P-8A ISR mission capabilities. Additional SAR, electronic intelligence collection, and data dissemination upgrades are scheduled for inclusion in upcoming pre-planned software updates and would be assessed during future FOT&E periods.

Based on IOT&E results, as of 2013 the P-8A Increment 1 system provides effective small-area, cued ASW search, localization, and attack mission capabilities, similar to the legacy P-3C system. Fundamental limitations in current sensor technology restrict search capabilities against more stressing adversary targets, making the P-8A not effective in some mission scenarios. The P-8A does not have an equivalent broad-area ASW acoustic search capability similar to that provided by the P-3C Improved Extended Echo Ranging system. The Navy intends to install the next generation multi-static active system to provide broad-area ASW search capabilities as part of the P-8A Increment 2 program. As a result of these two sensor shortfalls, the P-8A cannot execute the full range of mission tasks required by the ASW concept of operations. In fact, current P-8A ASW search capabilities provide only a small fraction of what was needed for most Navy operational plans. P-8A non-acoustic search capabilities are also very limited for evasive targets attempting to limit exposure to detection by radar and other sensors. Existing Mk 54 torpedo limitations also reduce attack effectiveness against evasive targets.

The P-8A Increment 1 system was effective in conducting unarmed ASuW missions against maritime surface targets. The P-8A radar provides an effective, all-weather surface target search and detection capability at short to medium ranges for all maritime surface targets and at longer ranges for larger target vessels. P-8A sensors effectively support surface surveillance operations and cue other Navy surveillance and strike platforms. However, the P-8A radar track-while-scan mode does not provide reliable track information for targets outside the radar field-of-view. Operational workarounds require P-8A crews to track each target of interest manually, which significantly increases sensor operator workload in target-dense operational environments. P-8A unarmed ASuW maritime surface target search, classification, track, and cue-to-attack capabilities are equivalent to P-3C capabilities. The Navy deferred armed ASuW mission capability until successful integration of the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile in FY14.

The P-8A Increment 1 system was not effective for the ISR mission. Imagery intelligence collection and dissemination capabilities are limited by radar performance deficiencies, sensor integration problems, and data transfer system interoperability shortfalls. The P-8A sensor suite can effectively collect EO and IR imagery in clear weather, day/night conditions. However, the P-8A does not have an effective high-resolution synthetic aperture radar imagery collection capability. The P-8A ESM sensor provides a limited ELINT capability with high-signal detection and identification rates when supported by well-defined, signal signature libraries specifically tailored to the expected electronic order of battle in a specific theater of operations. However, ELINT signal identification capabilities are limited by ESM signature library-size constraints. The P-8A demonstrated the capability to collect exploitable acoustic signature intelligence data during test events utilizing surface vessel targets.

The P-8A Increment 1 system provides a limited command, control, and communications mission capability to monitor and disseminate maritime target information to enhance the tactical awareness of maritime forces and on-scene commanders. During fleet training exercises, P-8A crews developed, maintained, and disseminated key elements of the f leet common operating picture to participating units while simultaneously conducting ASW, ASuW, and ISR operations. However, radar track-while-scan performance deficiencies and data display limitations often require manual target position tracking by the operator, which reduced tactical awareness and the capability to disseminate timely information to fleet forces. Communication system interoperability shortfalls related to the International Maritime Satellite, Common Data Link, and voice satellite communication systems limit crew access to off-board intelligence updates, preclude participation in some real-time tactical communication forums, and reduce capabilities to transmit tactical and intelligence data updates to on-scene commanders. Recent developmental test results indicate that the Navy has improved performance in the majority of these areas. Mission capability improvements was evaluated during FOT&E planned for early FY14.

The P-8A Increment 1 system was operationally suitable for ASW, ASuW, and ISR mission operations. The P-8A offers significant improvements in system reliability, maintainability, and availability compared to the legacy P-3C aircraft. During fleet exercise missions conducted from main operating bases and worldwide forward operating locations, the P-8A demonstrated high-mission reliability with an on-time take-off rate of 93.6 percent and airborne mission abort rate of only 1.6 percent.

Operational availability exceeded the established Navy requirement of 60 percent for initial fielding. P-8A hardware reliability, system maintenance frequency, and maintenance corrective action times surpass operational requirement thresholds, directly contributing to high- operational availability rates. However, frequent mission software faults indicate that mission system stability and software maturity require further improvement. Over 75 percent of observed critical mission system failures resulted from software-related events.

The P-8A was survivable in permissive threat environments. Survivability in conflicts against peer adversaries with advanced military technologies, second-tier adversary nations with less sophisticated threat systems, or non-state actors, depends on the P-8A capability to use off-board intelligence sources and onboard sensor performance to maintain safe standoff distances from all expected threats. The P-8A systems provide sufficient information for the crew to remain outside most threat engagement zones. However, some combination of environmental conditions, target density, and increased crew workload due to system integration problems can degrade threat situational awareness, which increases the likelihood of inadvertent entry into these threat engagement zones.

If engaged, the EWSP testing demonstrated the effectiveness of the system against a range of simulated Man-Portable Air Defense System missiles. The EWSP system has no radar warning receiver capability or countermeasures to provide warning or protection against RF-guided threats.

The P-8A Increment 1 system provides a C3 mission capability to collect and disseminate key elements of a common operational picture (COP) to maritime forces and on-scene commanders via Link 16 and Link 11 datalink systems and through other voice communication and data transfer systems. However, unresolved tactical display, communication system, and data transfer system deficiencies reduce P-8A COP data collection and dissemination capabilities in some operational scenarios. Corrections for these deficiencies would be evaluated in future operational test events.

During FOT&E, operational crews demonstrated the capability to carry and employ up to four AGM-84D missiles in operationally realistic ASuW mission scenarios. System software changes improved surface target search, classification, and tracking capabilities as compared to observed IOT&E performance. However, FOT&E also revealed additional sensor integration and display deficiencies that increase operator workload and/or preclude use of some ASuW mission system capabilities.

The P-8A Increment 1 system provides a C3 mission capability to collect and disseminate key elements of a common operational picture (COP) to maritime forces and on-scene commanders. The P-8A was partially compliant with joint interoperability standards and Net Ready Key Performance Parameter requirements. System improvements corrected several high-priority communication system interoperability and net ready compliance problems identified during IOT&E. The Joint Interoperability Test Command (JITC) follow-up assessments verified compliance with all 39 specified mission critical information exchange requirements, leading to joint use certification in October 2013. The JITC assessment also identified remaining net ready and interoperability shortfalls that require future improvement. The Navy has identified additional system enhancements necessary to deliver a fully net-enabled architecture as principle requirements of the P-8A Increment 3 upgrade program.

The P-8A was operationally suitable for Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW), ASuW, ISR, C3, and related maritime patrol missions. During FOT&E, P-8A mission capable rates exceeded those measured during IOT&E. Hardware components continued to demonstrate high reliability during operational testing and system software reliability improved compared to previous IOT&E results. P-8A aircraft flight performance (range, speed, payload, etc.) meet or exceed specified operational requirements for ASW, ASuW, and ISR missions. The P-8A meets all ASuW mission endurance, weapons carriage, and mission turnaround requirements while carrying the AGM-84D Block 1C anti-ship missile system.