WICHITA, Kan., Nov. 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit AeroSystems
Inc. (NYSE: SPR) has begun production of the Royal Australian Air
Force's (RAAF) first production P-8A aircraft. Spirit started
production on the 737 military derivative in October. With major
assembly now underway, the first unit is scheduled to deliver to
Boeing in early 2016.
"Spirit is proud to be on the P-8A program providing this
important capability to the Royal Australian Air Force," said
Duane Hawkins, Spirit senior vice
president of Boeing, Defense & Regional Jet Programs. "Spirit
has a unique capability to build military specific aircraft in the
same 737 commercial production line that is producing 42 airplanes
a month. We are able to use decades of experience building the 737
on military derivative programs, which makes the P-8A more
affordable and the highest quality possible."
The P-8A program is using a first-in-industry production process
and its existing Next-Generation 737 production system to
efficiently design and build P-8 aircraft. Spirit is responsible
for building 70 percent of the 737 aircraft. The 737-800 fuselage
receives military specific in-line modifications before it is sent
to Boeing's final assembly facility in Renton, Wash., where all aircraft structural
features unique to the P-8A are incorporated in sequence during
fabrication and assembly.
AIRCDRE Adam Brown visited Spirit to see the in-line
modifications on the first Australian P-8A.
"Our new P-8 will be the first of a new generation of maritime
surveillance for Australia. We're particularly excited and
proud to get what we think is the best maritime patrol aircraft in
the world coming to service in our air force," said RAAF Air
Commodore Adam Brown.
Australia has agreed to
purchase eight P-8A aircraft. The U.S. Navy is currently under
contract with Boeing for 62 P-8As to replace its P-3 fleet and has
delivered 31 aircraft to date. Boeing has also completed its
initial contract with India to
provide eight P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance and
anti-submarine warfare aircraft to the Indian Navy.
On the web: www.spiritaero.com
On Twitter: @SpiritAero
About Spirit AeroSystems Inc.
Spirit AeroSystems,
with headquarters in Wichita,
Kan., USA, is one of the world's largest non-OEM designers
and manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial aircraft. In
addition to its Wichita and
Chanute facilities in Kansas, Spirit has locations in Tulsa and McAlester,
Okla.; Kinston, N.C..;
Prestwick, Scotland; Subang,
Malaysia; and Saint-Nazaire,
France. In the U.S., Spirit's core
products include fuselages, pylons, nacelles and wing components.
Additionally, Spirit provides aftermarket customer support
services, including spare parts, maintenance/repair/overhaul, and
fleet support services in North
America, Europe and
Asia. Spirit Europe produces wing components for a host of
customers, including Airbus.
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SOURCE Spirit AeroSystems Inc.