Australian P-8A Poseidon strengthens AUKUS submarine warfare integration with UK CSG25
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According to information published by the UK Carrier Strike Group on June 16, 2025, the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon has officially integrated with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG 25) as part of Operation Highmast. The Australian aircraft, having conducted a flypast over HMS Prince of Wales, now embarks on a shared deployment that will stretch across over 30,000 nautical miles through the Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean, and Indo-Pacific region.Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The P-8A Poseidon is a militarized variant of the Boeing 737-800, powered by twin CFM56-7B turbofan engines (each rated at approximately 27,000 lbf thrust) and capable of flying up to 490 knots at a cruising altitude of 41,000 ft. (Picture source: Australian Air Force)
The P-8A Poseidon is a militarized variant of the Boeing 737-800, powered by twin CFM56-7B turbofan engines (each rated at approximately 27,000 lbf thrust) and capable of flying up to 490 knots at a cruising altitude of 41,000 ft. It can carry a maximum payload of around 85,820 kg, including internal weapons bays and under-wing hard points supporting Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes, AGM 84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and in some operators’ cases, the UK’s Sting Ray torpedo and future Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM).
The aircraft’s advanced sensor suite comprises a Raytheon AN/APY 10 multimode radar with SAR, ISAR, MTI, periscope detection, and weather avoidance capabilities. It’s complemented by an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) MX-20HD turret, passive and active multi-static acoustic sensors with sonobuoy launchers, electronic support measures (ESM), digital magnetic anomaly detection (MAD), and networked communications via Link 11/16 and SATCOM. The Poseidon also has the capability to control unmanned aerial systems (UAS) through level 2 control, extending its sensor reach significantly. Fueled by almost 34 tonnes of internal fuel, the P-8A can remain on station for extended low-altitude ASW missions out to 1,200 nm (2,000 km) from base, with air-to-air refuelling capability via KC-30A tankers further extending its reach.
CSG 25’s composition reflects a full-spectrum maritime force: HMS Prince of Wales is supported by 18 F 35B Lightning II jets (with plans to increase to 24), Merlin HM2/HC4 and Wildcat HMA2 helicopters (including the Crowsnest ASaC system), an Astute-class submarine, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, and tanker RFA Tidespring, totaling approximately 4,500 personnel. This marks the UK’s largest carrier air wing deployment in decades.
The Australian Poseidon will play a key role in hunting submarines, particularly within the Indo-Pacific’s increasingly contested undersea domain, working in concert with British Merlins and submarines. Its integration with CSG 25, especially during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 and at ports like Darwin and Singapore, also reflects deepening AUKUS ties and a combined maritime strategy.
In a real-world demonstration of its prowess, an RAAF P-8A recently took part in Exercise RIMPAC 2024, successfully tracking a US Los Angeles-class submarine and deploying four Mark 54 exercise torpedoes, marking a significant milestone as the first Australian Poseidon to release this torpedo variant. This deployment highlights not only the P-8A’s anti-submarine capabilities but also its flexibility in ISR, overland surveillance, command-and-control support, and search-and-rescue missions, making it an indispensable asset in modern carrier strike operations.
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According to information published by the UK Carrier Strike Group on June 16, 2025, the Royal Australian Air Force’s P-8A Poseidon has officially integrated with the United Kingdom’s Carrier Strike Group 25 (CSG 25) as part of Operation Highmast. The Australian aircraft, having conducted a flypast over HMS Prince of Wales, now embarks on a shared deployment that will stretch across over 30,000 nautical miles through the Mediterranean, Middle East, Indian Ocean, and Indo-Pacific region.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link
The P-8A Poseidon is a militarized variant of the Boeing 737-800, powered by twin CFM56-7B turbofan engines (each rated at approximately 27,000 lbf thrust) and capable of flying up to 490 knots at a cruising altitude of 41,000 ft. (Picture source: Australian Air Force)
The P-8A Poseidon is a militarized variant of the Boeing 737-800, powered by twin CFM56-7B turbofan engines (each rated at approximately 27,000 lbf thrust) and capable of flying up to 490 knots at a cruising altitude of 41,000 ft. It can carry a maximum payload of around 85,820 kg, including internal weapons bays and under-wing hard points supporting Mk 54 lightweight torpedoes, AGM 84 Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and in some operators’ cases, the UK’s Sting Ray torpedo and future Long Range Anti-Ship Missiles (LRASM).
The aircraft’s advanced sensor suite comprises a Raytheon AN/APY 10 multimode radar with SAR, ISAR, MTI, periscope detection, and weather avoidance capabilities. It’s complemented by an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) MX-20HD turret, passive and active multi-static acoustic sensors with sonobuoy launchers, electronic support measures (ESM), digital magnetic anomaly detection (MAD), and networked communications via Link 11/16 and SATCOM. The Poseidon also has the capability to control unmanned aerial systems (UAS) through level 2 control, extending its sensor reach significantly. Fueled by almost 34 tonnes of internal fuel, the P-8A can remain on station for extended low-altitude ASW missions out to 1,200 nm (2,000 km) from base, with air-to-air refuelling capability via KC-30A tankers further extending its reach.
CSG 25’s composition reflects a full-spectrum maritime force: HMS Prince of Wales is supported by 18 F 35B Lightning II jets (with plans to increase to 24), Merlin HM2/HC4 and Wildcat HMA2 helicopters (including the Crowsnest ASaC system), an Astute-class submarine, Type 45 destroyer HMS Dauntless, Type 23 frigate HMS Richmond, and tanker RFA Tidespring, totaling approximately 4,500 personnel. This marks the UK’s largest carrier air wing deployment in decades.
The Australian Poseidon will play a key role in hunting submarines, particularly within the Indo-Pacific’s increasingly contested undersea domain, working in concert with British Merlins and submarines. Its integration with CSG 25, especially during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2025 and at ports like Darwin and Singapore, also reflects deepening AUKUS ties and a combined maritime strategy.
In a real-world demonstration of its prowess, an RAAF P-8A recently took part in Exercise RIMPAC 2024, successfully tracking a US Los Angeles-class submarine and deploying four Mark 54 exercise torpedoes, marking a significant milestone as the first Australian Poseidon to release this torpedo variant. This deployment highlights not only the P-8A’s anti-submarine capabilities but also its flexibility in ISR, overland surveillance, command-and-control support, and search-and-rescue missions, making it an indispensable asset in modern carrier strike operations.
