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Pentagon | P-8 Poseidon 'doesn't work'.

Report: Navy’s New Submarine Hunter Doesn’t Work

by MIKE HOFFMAN on JANUARY 24, 2014

P-8torpedo.jpg


The U.S. Navy’s next generation submarine hunter isn’t any good yet at hunting enemy submarines, according to recent Defense Department tests first reported on by Bloomberg.

A report filed by Michael Gilmore, chief of the Pentagon testing office, stated that the P-8A Poseidon exhibited flaws in the “plane’s radar performance, sensor integration and data transfer,” according to Bloomberg reporter Tony Capaccio, who received an early version of Gilmore’s report.

The U.S. Navy has spent about $35 billion on the P-8. The reported stated that the aircraft, which was built to replace the P-3 Orion, is not yet deployable, according to Gilmore’s report.

The Navy ran the P-8 through strenuous combat testing from September 2012 to March 2013. Results of those tests led Gilmore to conclude that the P-8 “is not effective for the intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission and is not effective for wide area anti-submarine search,” according to the Bloomberg report..

Indians here telling they have got a different version. AFAIK, Out of three problems mentioned, only data transfer would not be affected by it because since they didn't signed CISMOA, so they practically had to implement their own COM suit (Data links, IFF). For radar performance and sensor integration, they are still american. So how could Indian's here say, their version would not get affected if radar and sensors are still american whose problems are being revealed now after testing?

@sancho

Hydrocarbon sensors to detect diesel submarines, Increased range and duration, more weapon load. (in future ice detection system too which has problematic now)

If I correctly understand, Your modified version got some extra sensors, so how does it not be a part of problem since sensor integration is just proved faulty?
 
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So how could Indian's here say, their version would not get affected if radar and sensors are still american whose problems are being revealed now after testing?

Pentagon | P-8 Poseidon 'doesn't work'.

The problems of the US forces not of IN, since IN did countered these very issues, by adding more sensors to the P8I, that the P8A has. The addidional radar arrays provide it with better surveillance, the MAD better detection capability of subs..., so the shortcomings of the US versions would not apply to the Indian once, but the question is, does it really matter to the US forces? They purposly didn't chose these systems, because they will use the P8A in combination with drones, be it smaller, fitted with an MAD, that could be operated at lower altitude and speeds, or HALE drones like the MQ-4C Triton. So their surveillance capability is not dependent on the systems the P8 carries alone, but is a combined approach.
When you take that to account too, you will understand that these reports are not even close to be an issue as they are made in the media. But the P8 is a new platform, with new sensors capabilities and some of them only under development, which means we will see more updates in future too.
 
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P-8's MAD boom seems tiny compared to Y-8 maritime patrol plane's MAD boom.
In mid-2008, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) deleted the requirement for the P-8A to be equipped with magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment in an effort to reduce weight by 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) to improve range and endurance. P-8Is destined for the Indian Navy shall retain MAD.

P-8I+MMA+Diagram.jpg


A Magnetic anomaly detector requires the aircraft to fly low and slow, in order to detect submerged subs at relatively shallow depths. That is something the 737 is not intended to do or be good at that compared to propjets like P-3.

SO MAD will be on other platforms, with the information shared....
 
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Indians here telling they have got a different version. AFAIK, Out of three problems mentioned, only data transfer would not be affected by it because since they didn't signed CISMOA, so they practically had to implement their own COM suit (Data links, IFF). For radar performance and sensor integration, they are still american. So how could Indian's here say, their version would not get affected if radar and sensors are still american whose problems are being revealed now after testing?

@sancho



If I correctly understand, Your modified version got some extra sensors, so how does it not be a part of problem since sensor integration is just proved faulty?
@sancho had replied above well.
 
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I don't get using a civilian airframe for P-8. Couldn't they have made a B-1B like airframe for P-8?
 
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In mid-2008, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) deleted the requirement for the P-8A to be equipped with magnetic anomaly detection (MAD) equipment in an effort to reduce weight by 3,500 lb (1,600 kg) to improve range and endurance. P-8Is destined for the Indian Navy shall retain MAD.

P-8I+MMA+Diagram.jpg


A Magnetic anomaly detector requires the aircraft to fly low and slow, in order to detect submerged subs at relatively shallow depths. That is something the 737 is not intended to do or be good at that compared to propjets like P-3.

SO MAD will be on other platforms, with the information shared....

P-8 is the best MPA in the world.
 
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Pentagon | P-8 Poseidon 'doesn't work'.

The problems of the US forces not of IN, since IN did countered these very issues, by adding more sensors to the P8I, that the P8A has. The addidional radar arrays provide it with better surveillance, the MAD better detection capability of subs..., so the shortcomings of the US versions would not apply to the Indian once, but the question is, does it really matter to the US forces? They purposly didn't chose these systems, because they will use the P8A in combination with drones, be it smaller, fitted with an MAD, that could be operated at lower altitude and speeds, or HALE drones like the MQ-4C Triton. So their surveillance capability is not dependent on the systems the P8 carries alone, but is a combined approach.
When you take that to account too, you will understand that these reports are not even close to be an issue as they are made in the media. But the P8 is a new platform, with new sensors capabilities and some of them only under development, which means we will see more updates in future too.

IN will also be receiving the MQ 4 C right? Then why are we having a MAD? Also, is there are any reference for hydrocarbon sensors on the P8I. The P8A has it...but not been able to find info on the P8I.

@Capt.Popeye any info on this?
 
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IN will also be receiving the MQ 4 C right? Then why are we having a MAD? Also, is there are any reference for hydrocarbon sensors on the P8I. The P8A has it...but not been able to find info on the P8I.

@Capt.Popeye any info on this?


P-8I Neptune does not have hydrocarbon sensor.
 
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I don't get using a civilian airframe for P-8. Couldn't they have made a B-1B like airframe for P-8?
B-1Bs don't do the required low-and-slow (737 already has trouble with that, relative to propped P-3). Besides, how well do you think a B-1B does in terms of endurance and staying power over a patrol area?
 
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"The B-1 is a formidable weapon, but not terribly useful. For the price of one bomber, you can have 200 cruise missiles." French General Georges Buis
 
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