I’m hoping this won’t be another case where the line closes down and we decide later that we might like a few more. Just opinion but with the capabilities the C17 has brought to the RAAF and the weight of the vehicles we are procuring,
I think if the C17 line was still running we might of got a slightly larger fleet.
I don’t think it’s exactly the same as the C-17A line closure, Boeing did say it was shutting soon (no doubt to generate interest), and in the end the RAAF did get two of the last 10 ‘white tails’, would 10 RAAF C-17A been better than 8? Sure, still that was better than the original 4.
As for Poseidon, the line is definitely starting to wind down, the USN order is coming to an end, the Indian Navy is due another three next year, Norway, New Zealand and South Korea have 15 orders between them yet to be delivered, just over half of the RAF fleet is yet to be delivered and now the RAAF has ordered an additional two.
As for the RAAF, originally 8 were planned (plus 7 Triton), that became 8 + 4 options, that then became 12 + 3 options, and now 14 (plus 6 + 1 Triton).
More is always good, but even if that last ‘one’ never happens, we’ve gone from firm orders for 8 to 14, plus 6 + 1 Triton.
Pretty good result, in my opinion.
As for Poseidon production itself, I wouldn’t be surprised if the US Congress does the same as it did with the C-17A, as the line neared closure it added additional aircraft to keep the line open for a few extra years.
So even without any additional international orders there my still be a chance of the line being open to procure that extra ‘one’ for the RAAF.
Cheers,
and can now be deployed on operations !
