RAAF will acquire 15 P-8A's plus Harpoon and new generation weapons with 11 external hardpoints under fuselage and wings plus a weapons bay. It has in-flight refuelling capability.
FRom RAAF website:
The P-8A is built specifically as a military aircraft. It is based on the proven commercial designs of Boeing's 737-800 fuselage, but has been substantially modified to include:
- a weapons bay
- under wing and under fuselage hard points for weapons, and
- increased strengthening for low level (down to 200ft) operations and high angle turns.
The P-8A aircraft has an extensive communications system including radios and data links across VHF, UHF, HF and SATCOM.
An internal fuel capacity of almost 34 tonnes allows the P-8A to conduct low level anti-submarine warfare missions at a distance of greater than 2,000 kilometres from base. The P-8A will be compatible for air-to-air refuelling with the KC-30A MRTT.