http://www.naval-technology.com/projects/mma/
The aircraft design is based on the proven fuselage of the 737-800 and the wings of the 737-900. The P-8A aircraft has increased gross weight capability compared to the 737-800.
In June 2005, Boeing announced that the design of the P-8A's wingtips has been changed from the blended winglet to a backswept wingtip. In June 2006, Stork Aerospace of the Netherlands was awarded the contract for manufacture of the backswept (or raked) wingtips.
The internal weapons bay is installed beneath the forward section of the fuselage. The 737-900-style wings are constructed with hardpoints for carrying air-to-surface missiles.
The 737 MMA will be assembled at the Boeing production facility in Renton, Washington. The 737 fuselage and tail sections will be built by Spirit AeroSystems in Wichita, Kansas, then transferred to Renton where all the unique 737 MMA aircraft structural features will be incorporated in sequence during fabrication and assembly.
The quality and performance acceptance flight testing of the aircraft will be conducted from Renton Field and final installations and checkout of the mission system and special flight test instrumentation will be conducted at the Boeing Field. The aircraft will then ferry to Naval Air Station at Patuxent River, Maryland, for flight test.
The Preliminary Design Review (PDR) was successfully completed in November 2005. Critical design review was completed in July 2007. The first aircraft for flight test is due for delivery in 2009. Full-scale production at a rate of 12 to 18 aircraft a year is planned to commence in 2012. The planned Initial Operational Capability (IOC) date is 2013.
In July 2007, the Australian Government was given 'first pass approval' to participate in the cooperative development of the P-8A Poseidon. The P-8A would replace the Royal Australian Navy's fleet of P-3C Orion aircraft.