Page 35 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

At the heart of the enterprise is a large facility where Triton and P-8 operators have separate spaces but
they are joined by a unified operations centre.

It is a walk through area, which means that cross learning between the two platforms will be highlighted.

This is especially important as the two platforms are software upgradeable and the Aussies might well wish to
modify the mission systems of both platforms to meet evolving Australian requirements.

I had a chance to discuss the standup of the facility with Wing Commander Mick Durant, Officer Temporary
Commanding 92 Wing, Wing Commander David Titheridge, Commanding Officer 11 Squadron and Wing
Commander Gary Lewis, , Deputy Director P-8 and Triton Transition.

Question: Obviously, you are working with the USN in standing up these two platforms. Could you
describe that working relationship?

Answer: We’ve got an incredibly tight connection with the USN at the moment.
In fact, they’re doing all of our initial transition training.

So they’re taking our current P-3 aviators and converting them to P-8 in Jacksonville through the VP-30
training system.

There’s an enduring connection, which everybody’s going to benefit from in the long run.

We are P-3 operators and you need to realize that we developed indigenously a significant set of upgrades
on our AP-3Cs that are not on the US P-3Cs.

In fact, some of these upgrades provided functionality in sensors that are similar to what we have so far on
the P-8.

The Royal Australian Air Force’s first P-8A Poseidon, A47-001 fly’s in formation with a current AP-3C Orion
over their home Base of RAAF Base Edinburgh in South Australia. In an Australian first, a Neptune, Catalina,
AP-3C Orion and P-8A Poseidon aircraft have flown over Adelaide together to mark the start of a new era
for the Royal Australian Air Force. Representing four generations of aircraft flown by Number 11 Squadron,
the aircraft have flown over Adelaide to celebrate the arrival of the first Royal Australian Air Force P-8A
Poseidon to RAAF Base Edinburgh. During the Air Force’s transition to the P-8A Poseidon, the AP-3C Orion will

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