United States In February 2012, the P-8 made its mission debut during "
Bold Alligator" 2012, an annual littoral warfare exercise. In April 2012, it took part in
Exercise Joint Warrior, flying out of
RAF Lossiemouth. During
RIMPAC 2012 in the Hawaiian area, two P-8As participated in 24 scenarios as part of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron One (
VX-1) while forward deployed to
Marine Corps Base Hawaii. On 29 November 2013, its inaugural deployment began when six aircraft and 12 air crews of squadron
VP-16 departed its home station of NAS Jacksonville, Florida, for
Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan. This deployment was a pre-planned regional re-balancing action, but occurred shortly after China's establishment of the
East China Sea Air Defense Identification Zone, heightening tensions. During early exercises and the Japanese deployment, the P-8 reportedly suffered radar, sensor integration, and data transfer problems, leading to more testing. In 2012–3, the US government's
Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOTE) evaluated the P-8A Increment 1, and reported that it was effective for small-area and cued ASW search, localization and attack missions, but lacked the
P-3C's broad-area ASW acoustic search capability; the Mk 54 torpedoes were of limited use against evasive targets. The P-8A was also effective at ASuW search, detection and classification in all-weather at short to medium ranges for all surface vessels and at longer ranges for larger vessels, yet was not effective for Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance mission due to various issues including no high-resolution SAR capability. It did have better range, speed, and reliability than older aircraft. DOTE concluded that it was not deployment ready. Pentagon acquisition under-secretary
Frank Kendall said of the report that, although its findings are factual, it ignored future capability upgrades for ASW and surveillance. A second squadron,
VP-5, completed its transition to the P-8 in August 2013. On 2 October 2015, USN P-8s stationed at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, alongside U.S. Coast Guard
HC-144A Ocean Sentry,
HC-130H and USAF Reserve
HC-130P Combat Shadow aircraft, searched the Eastern Caribbean Sea for the missing
SS El Faro cargo ship that sank on 1 October in the Category 3
Hurricane Joaquin near Crooked Island in the
Bahamas. On 20 February 2018, a P-8 of
Patrol Squadron Eight (VP-8) rescued three
fishermen whose vessel had been adrift in the South
Pacific Ocean for eight days, deploying a search and rescue (SAR) kit containing supplies and communications equipment, the first time that a P-8 deployed a SAR kit in a real operation. On 19 August 2014, a Chinese
Shenyang J-11 fighter came within of a USN P-8A of VP-5 about east of
Hainan Island while patrolling the
South China Sea. The J-11 flew past the P-8's nose and performed a
barrel roll at close proximity. A Pentagon spokesperson said the J-11's unit had made close intercepts earlier that year. The U.S. sent a diplomatic note to China about the behavior of the Chinese fighter groups' commander. China stated that the claims were "totally groundless", and that the root cause was U.S. surveillance of China. In November 2016, a Russian
Su-30 fighter intercepted a P-8 over the
Black Sea, coming within of it, forcing the P-8 through its
jet wash, causing "a 15-degree roll and violent turbulence". USN P-8s routinely rotate through bases of allies. In September 2014, the Malaysian government offered the use of bases in
East Malaysia for P-8s, but no flights have yet been approved. On 7 December 2015, P-8s were deployed to Singapore as part of a Defense Cooperation Agreement between the US and Singapore for "fighting terrorism and piracy." China criticized the Singapore deployment as "regional militarization by the U.S." The third detachment of two P-8s based in
Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore, participated in naval military drills with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in mid 2016. On 20 November 2023, a USN P-8A assigned to
VP-4 overshot the runway while landing in the rain at
MCAS Kaneohe Bay and ended up in the water. None of the nine crew on board were injured. The USN hopes to repair the aircraft and return it to operational status. The aircraft was floated and pulled from the sea on 2 December 2023. The USN later determined that restoring the aircraft was not cost-effective and subsequently scrapped it. A USN P-8A flew through the
Taiwan Strait on 17 April 2024, asserting navigational rights amid tensions with China over Taiwan's sovereignty. This followed the first talks between US and Chinese defense chiefs since 2022, aimed at easing regional tensions. Boeing P-8 Poseidon patrol aircraft were also used to intercept tankers during the
United States naval blockade of Iran as part of the
2026 Iran war.
India In January 2008, Boeing proposed the P-8I, a customized export variant of the P-8A, for the
Indian Navy. The P-8I has a version of the Raytheon APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar that meets export requirements. It also features two components not fitted on the P-8A, a
Telephonics APS-143 OceanEye aft radar and a MAD. The P-8I also features multiple Indian-origin components which include
Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) Data Link II communication suite, BEL-developed
IFF Interrogator system, Avantel
mobile satellite service (MSS) and
Electronics Corporation of India Limited (ECIL) speech secrecy system. The Data Link II will allow the P-8I to exchange tactical data between
Indian Navy aircraft, ships and shore establishments. These systems will be integrated in Boeing Renton Factory.
First contract On 1 January 2009, India's
Ministry of Defence signed a US$2.1 billion (~$ in ) agreement with Boeing for eight P-8Is to replace the Indian Navy's aging
Tupolev Tu-142M maritime surveillance turboprops. The contract was signed after negotiations and clearance for the same from the
Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). While the P-8I contract was a direct agreement with Boeing, some end-user verifications are yet to be clarified with the
US Government. Boeing will deliver the first of eight P-8I aircraft within 48 months of contract signing. It was Boeing's first military sale to India and the P-8's first international customer. India has purchased 21 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles and 32 Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedoes All-Up-Round for the P-8I. In April 2010, BEL delivered the first Data Link II systems to Boeing a month ahead of schedule. BEL was contracted to supply them in August 2009 and is expected to complete the delivery by late 2011. In December 2010, BEL supplied its IFF Interrogator system to Boeing. The fuselage was then delivered to Boeing Renton Facility for final assembly line on 29 May 2011. The installation of wings and engines followed. The final assembly begun by 21 June 2011. On 29 September 2011, the first P-8I completed its initial flight from
Boeing Field. The aircraft took off at 12:02 pm local time and landed after a two hour and 31 minute long sortie. Multiple airborne systems checks including engine accelerations & decelerations and autopilot flight modes were conducted before the aircraft was take to an altitude of up to . Boeing would now begin mission systems installation and checkout work on this aircraft at its Renton facility. The second aircraft was delivered on 15 November 2013. Meanwhile, the first aircraft completed its weapons trials by the Indian Navy which included firing a Harpoon anti-ship missile and dropping a torpedo. The aircraft's acceptance trials was still underway while the same for the second aircraft will now commence within months.
Optional clause contract In October 2010, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC), under the Indian Ministry of Defence, approved the purchase of four additional P-8Is. As of December 2012, the negotiations for four P-8I was underway. This would add to the capability to the highest of Indian Navy's three-tier maritime surveillance grid. On 1 July 2016, the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) cleared the procurement worth around $1.1 billion. The deal would be signed within few days while the first aircraft was to be delivered within 50 months or three years of signing the contract. The deal was finally signed on 27 July 2016. The first was delivered to Indian naval air station ,
Dabolim,
Goa on 19 November 2020, followed by the second on 13 July 2021, the third on 18 October 2021 and the last on 23 February 2022. The last two aircraft arrived at the air station on 30 December 2021. The aircraft was welcomed by a
MiG-29K formation. This marked the maiden operation of P-8I from the air station. The second squadron of P-8I based at Hansa,
INAS 316 Condors, was commissioned on 29 March 2022. During its commissioning, the
commanding officer was
Commander Amit Mohapatra. The squadron will employ the four aircraft received as part of the Option Clause contract. In April 2020, DSCA approved the sale of 10
AGM-84L Harpoon missiles along with containers, spare and repair parts, support and test equipment for the P-8I fleet to the Indian Navy at a value of $93 million. The possible sale of 16 aircraft-launched Mark 54 Lightweight Torpedo all up rounds and 3 Mk 54 Exercise Torpedoes for its additional P-8I fleet at a cost of $63 million was also cleared. These sales were for the second batch of four P-8Is.
Second contract In 2011, India planned to order twelve more P-8Is at a later date; in 2019, this was cut to eight to ten due to a limited budget. On 28 November 2019, the Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) approved the procurement of six additional P-8Is. By 27 July 2020, reports revealed that Indian Ministry of Defence has sent
Letter of Request (LoR) to the US Government for the procurement at an estimated cost of $1.8 billion. The LoR was forwarded to the
Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and the proposal featured on a notice by the agency under the US
Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program. The DSCA is expected to respond with a Letter of Acceptance (LoA) with the deal expected to be signed by early 2021. On 30 April 2021, the
US Department of Defense (DoD) cleared the sale of six P-8Is and related equipment to India at an estimated cost of $2.42 billion. The numbers were reduced from ten due to budget constraints. The related equipment includes eight Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Joint Tactical Radio Systems 5 (MIDS-JTRS 5) (6 installed, 2 spares); forty-two AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors (36 installed, 6 spares); and fourteen LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGIs) (12 installed, 2 spares). The DSCA informed about the clearance to the
US Congress. By 2025, the price of the possible sale of six additional P-8Is were increased by 50% in view of the supply chain costs. On 7 August 2025,
Reuters quoted three Indian officials and reported that multiple planned defence procurements from the US — including the case for six additional aircraft — had been halted, though the claims were rejected by the Indian Defence Ministry as "false and fabricated" the following day. The US Department of Defense and Boeing officials visited India between 16 and 19 September for detailed discussions on their current offers on the additional procurement of P-8I aircraft made to the Indian government. The US delegation included officials from the undersecretary of defence for policy, Navy International Programs Office (NIPO), Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft Program Office (PMA 290), and the DSCA. While the NIPO strengthens global maritime partnerships by facilitating the export and transfer of capabilities that advance U.S. strategic security interests, the PMA-290 is responsible for the acquisition, sustainment, and delivery of maritime patrol aircraft. The deal cost could range around $4 billion. The $3 billion deal for six P-8I aircraft is close to being sealed as of 4 February 2026. The defence ministry is expected to clear the deal shortly followed by the
Cabinet Committee on Security which is the final approval required before the contract is signed. The Defence Acquisition Council (DAC) is expected to meet in the third week of February where it will take up the proposal. The deal is expected to be signed in the
FY2026-27. The deal was granted Acceptance of Necessity (AoN) by the DAC on 12 February 2026.
Operations In 2014, several Indian Navy P-8Is conducted search operations for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. The aircraft, based in INS Rajali, was deployed during the search operations of the wreckage after the
2016 Indian Air Force An-32 crash in the
Bay of Bengal. On 4 June 2019, one of the P-8I aircraft was deployed in during the search and rescue operations following
2019 Indian Air Force An-32 crash. In August 2024, it was announced that the Indian Navy's P-8I fleet will be maintained by Air India Engineering Services Limited (AIESL), a subsidiary of
Air India, which signed a deal with
Boeing for receiving training for its personnel. AIESL had already overhauled the landing gear of the entire fleet. The Indian Navy has also signed an agreement with the
Royal Australian Air Force for
KC-30A's to potentially refuel Indian P-8Is during long-range operations. During Exercise Konkan 2025 conducted between
UK Carrier Strike Group 2025 and -led
Carrier Battle Group, included an anti-submarine warfare operation. Royal Navy
Merlin Mk2 helicopters operating from and and Indian Navy P-8I Neptune aircraft were deployed during the operation, while an Indian submarine was the target. Indian P-8Is also coordinated search and rescue efforts for the crew of
IRIS Dena, sunk by a US submarine off the coast of
Sri Lanka during the
2026 Iran war. The
Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Indian Navy conducted four trials of its indigenous Air Droppable Container (ADC-150) from P-8I aircraft off the coast of
Goa in early 2026. The ability to employ the ADC-150 from P-8I will facilitate delivery of urgent critical stores, equipment and medical assistance to vessels at sea. On 27 March 2026, the Indian defence ministry signed a contract worth with Boeing India Defense Private Ltd, a wholly owned Indian subsidiary of Boeing for depot level inspection of the fleet. The project is under the Buy Indian category with 100% indigenous content at an in-country
MRO facility. The P-8I was deployed during
Operation Sindoor and conducted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) operations providing inputs to the Indian Air Force and Indian Army to strike their targets. Captain Saurbabh Kumar of the
Indian Navy was awarded the Nao Sena Medal (Gallantry) for ISR mission and for evading the Chinese Beyond Visual Range air to air missile fired by Pakistan while on his mission. The missile is supposed to be the
PL-15 which is the only Chinese BVRAAM in operation with Pakistan. The citation for Commander Kumar reads, "The Officer was deployed at forward airbase to undertake ISR operations. These missions were flown towards updating enemy targets of interests to IAF and IA. As the pilot in command he undertook various missions including intelligence gathering, proving critical inputs to further own operations and plans. The aircraft was experiencing bad weather and a GPS denied environment while flying over the mountainous terrain. When warning of an enemy missing closing in on the aircraft was received, he quickly reacted and outmaneuvered the enemy missile, ensuring mission accomplishment along with the safety of the crew and the aircraft."
Australia On 20 July 2007, the
Australian Minister for Defence announced that the P-8A was the preferred aircraft to replace the
Royal Australian Air Force fleet of Lockheed
AP-3C Orions in conjunction with a then yet-to-be-selected unmanned aerial vehicle. The last AP-3C was scheduled to be retired in 2018, after nearly 30 years of service. In March 2009, Australia's Chief of Air Force stated that the RAAF planned to introduce the P-8A in 2016. In October 2012, Australia formalized its participation, committing
A$73.9m (US$81.1m) in an agreement with the USN. In July 2013,
Air Marshal Geoff Brown, head of the RAAF, said Australia was considering buying more P-8As and fewer MQ-4C Triton UAVs than earlier planned. On 21 February 2014, Prime Minister
Tony Abbott announced the intention to procure eight P-8As plus options for four more; entry into service is planned for 2021. In July 2014, negotiations commenced between Boeing and the US Department of Defense to integrate the AGM-84 Harpoon Block 1G anti-ship missile onto the P-8A on Australia's behalf. In August 2014, the USN concluded an advanced acquisition contract on the first four of up to 12 P-8As to be bought by Australia, with delivery expected from 2017. In January 2016, Australia ordered a further four P-8As. The 2016 Defence White Paper stated that eight P-8As would be in service in the early 2020s and that 15 P-8As are planned for by the late 2020s. Including support facilities, the first group of eight aircraft's total cost is estimated at $3.6 billion (AU$4 billion). The RAAF accepted its first P-8A on 27 September 2016; it arrived in Australia on 14 November. The RAAF had received 12 P-8As by 13 December 2019. The Australian Government approved ordering two additional aircraft on 30 December 2020. The option to acquire a 15th aircraft may not be taken up. According to the Australian Defence Minister,
Richard Marles, in May 2022 a Chinese
J-16 is alleged to have flown alongside a RAAF P-8A, deploying
flares and
chaff. One piece of chaff is alleged to have been ingested into the P-8's engine. On 20 October 2025 Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles disclosed that a Chinese Su-35 fighter jet had released flares "very close" to a P-8A aircraft doing routine surveillance in international airspace over the South China Sea the previous day, stating also that the plane was not damaged.
United Kingdom In August 2012, it was reported that Boeing saw the
United Kingdom as a market for the P-8, following the cancellation of the
Nimrod MRA4 in 2010. On 23 November 2015, the UK announced its intention to order nine P-8s in the
Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, that would be based at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, to protect the UK's
nuclear deterrent and aircraft carriers and for
search-and-rescue and
overland reconnaissance. On 25 March 2016, the U.S. State Department approved a proposed
Foreign Military Sale to the UK for up to nine P-8s and associated support. During an April 2016 tour of US anti-submarine capabilities, the British defense procurement minister stated that the
Royal Air Force would initially operate the P-8 with U.S. weapons, with the option to use British weapons later. It was not initially clear whether the UK would have access to future ground-surveillance capabilities developed for the P-8. On 11 July 2016, Boeing announced the signing of a $3.87 billion (£3 billion) contract for nine P-8s and support infrastructure, in three production lots over ten years, with deliveries commencing in 2019. The RAF gave the aircraft the
service name Poseidon MRA Mk1. They are operated by
120 Squadron and
201 Squadron. The first Poseidon MRA Mk1 (
ZP801) made its initial flight on 13 July 2019. The UK took delivery of the first aircraft, named
Pride of Moray, at Boeing's Seattle facility on 29 October. It arrived at
Kinloss Barracks in February 2020 before moving to RAF Lossiemouth in October 2020, along with
ZP802 which was delivered on 13 March 2020. The RAF declared the P-8 had reached
initial operating capability (IOC) on 1 April 2020. The final ordered aircraft arrived at RAF Lossiemouth in January 2022.
Norway In March 2014, Norwegian newspaper
Dagbladet reported that the Royal Norwegian Air Force is considering leasing aircraft from Boeing as
No. 333 Squadron RNoAF's six P-3 Orions were becoming increasingly difficult to keep operational. In June 2016, Norwegian newspaper
Verdens Gang reported that the Norwegian government would buy four new surveillance aircraft in its long-term defense plan; the P-8 was seen as the main option. In December 2016, the
U.S. State Department approved the sale with congressional approval pending. On 29 March 2017, Norway signed a contract for five P-8As, to be delivered between 2022 and 2023. On 13 July 2021, Boeing rolled out first P-8As Poseidon aircraft from the paint shop for Norway. The first aircraft was delivered on 18 November 2021. It is to be operated by the 133 Air Wing, 333 Squadron at
Evenes Air Station. The first P-8 is to be named Viking and the successive four aircraft are to be named for Norse gods and a ship pilot: Vingtor, Ulabrand, Hugin and Munin.
New Zealand , with an open
bomb bay Boeing publicly identified the
Royal New Zealand Air Force as a potential customer in 2008 as a replacement for its P-3 Orions. In April 2017, the U.S. State Department approved the possible foreign military sale of up to four P-8As with equipment and support, valued at US$1.46 billion (~$ in ). In July 2018, the New Zealand government announced the purchase of four P-8As, to begin operations in 2023. Four P-8As were ordered in March 2019. The RNZAF is planning to operate the type for at least 30 years. In September 2020, the inaugural Royal New Zealand Air Force crew for the P-8A graduated training at Jacksonville, Florida. This crew is to then qualify as instructors to train the first RNZAF crews back in New Zealand. The first P-8A was delivered in December 2022, with three more aircraft delivered as of July 2023. On 15 April 2026, an RNZAF P-8A Poseidon flew within 120
nautical miles of the
Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands, a group of uninhabited
islets administered by
Japan but claimed by
China, monitoring
North Korean sanctions evasions at sea in North Asia under
UN Security Council resolutions, which NZ has contributed to since 2018.
New Zealand Defense Force officials confirmed that the flight was conducted in
international airspace and followed standard procedures for monitoring maritime activity. "The action undermined China's
security interests, increased risks of misunderstanding and miscalculation, and gravely disrupted the order of
civil aviation in relevant airspace," said
Guo Jiakun, Chinese diplomat, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. A spokesperson for the NZDF said the crew of the P-8 operated professionally and in accordance with international law and civil aviation procedures for the region and that the "NZDF has reviewed the routes flown and all available information. We have no data which indicates they disrupted civil aviation." When the
New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters' office was approached for comment, a statement released said they had nothing to add to NZDF's response on the matter. The
Defence Minister Chris Penks' office also said it had no further comment beyond NZDF's statement.
South Korea In 2013, the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA) commenced a procurement program to acquire up to 20 ASW aircraft to replace the
Republic of Korea Navy's fleet of 16 P-3Cs; possible candidates included the
C-295 MPA, P-8, Saab Swordfish and the
SC-130J Sea Hercules. DAPA considered procuring 12 to 20 ex-USN
Lockheed S-3 Vikings. In 2017, the ROKN canceled plans to buy refurbished S-3s. On 26 June 2018, it was announced that DAPA had selected the P-8 and would acquire six aircraft through the US Foreign Military Sales program. On 13 September 2018, the US state department stated it supported the sale of 6 P-8s and notified Congress. South Korea ordered six P-8As in March 2019 with aircraft delivered in 2024.
Germany The US Department of State approved a possible Foreign Military Sale of five P-8As with associated equipment to Germany for an estimated cost of $1.77 billion. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified US Congress of the possible sale on 12 March 2021. On 23 June 2021, Germany approved the purchase of five P-8As worth $1.31 billion (~$ in ). On 28 September 2021, Germany finalized the purchase and is to retire its existing P-3C Orions when the P-8s are delivered. In November 2023, a simulator and an additional three P-8s were approved. The first P-8A is to enter service with the German Navy in Spring 2025. The
German Navy sent a P-8 to participate at the
International Fleet Review 2026 held at
Visakapatanam in
India.
Canada Boeing identified that the
Royal Canadian Air Force's fleet of
CP-140 Auroras (Canadian variant of the P-3 Orion) would begin to reach the end of their service life by 2025. In 2015, Boeing offered the
Challenger MSA, a smaller and cheaper aircraft based on the Bombardier Challenger 650 integrating many of the P-8's sensors and equipment, to complement but not replace the CP-140s. Boeing also offered the P-8A with modifications specific to Canadian operations to replace the Aurora. In 2019, Canada announced the start of a project to replace its CP-140s, valued at greater than and named "Canadian Multimission Aircraft Project". The Canadian Armed Forces requirements call for a crewed, long-range platform, capable of providing
C4, ISR, and ASW with the ability to engage/control and to fully integrate with other ISR and ASW assets. In 2022, Boeing officially announced it would offer the P-8A in the Canadian Multi-Mission Aircraft project with CAE, GE Aviation Canada, IMP Aerospace & Defence, KF Aerospace, Honeywell Aerospace Canada and Raytheon Canada. In March 2023, Canada announced the submission of a Letter of Request via the U.S. government's Foreign Military Sales program on the acquisition of up to 16 P-8As. On 27 June 2023, the State Department approved a possible $5.9 billion sale of up to 16 P-8As and associated equipment, pending approval by Congress. On 30 November 2023, Defence Minister
Bill Blair announced that Canada would purchase up to 16 P-8As for (). The cost breakdown includes for the aircraft and related equipment while another is for simulators, infrastructure and weapons. Delivery of the type is expected between 2026 and 2027, with full operational capability anticipated by 2033.
Singapore On 3 March 2025, Singapore's Defence Minister
Ng Eng Hen announced that replacement for its Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft is to be announced soon, with the Boeing P-8A and
Airbus C295 under consideration. The decision to order the P-8 was confirmed in September 2025 after a meeting between Singapore's Defence Minister
Chan Chun Sing and
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
Potential operators Brazil On 23 September 2022, Boeing's Latin America director, Tim Flood, presented the capabilities of the P-8 to the
Brazilian Air Force commander, General
Carlos de Almeida Baptista Júnior. According to Baptista Júnior, "the discussions have a great importance to prospect the future of FAB's maritime patrol aviation", as part of a plan to replace its P-3AMs currently in service.
Denmark According to a leaked defence list in the Danish newspaper Altinget in 2023, Denmark is considering acquiring P-8s in the near future. In June 2025, Denmark signed a cooperation agreement with Norway to lease Norwegian P-8 aircraft to meet immediate maritime patrol needs. On 15 September 2025, the Danish Minister of Defence Troels Lund Poulsen announced in a TV2 interview, that the government wishes to buy "a number" of P-8s worth at least DKK 10,000,000,000. On 29 December 2025, Denmark has received approval to buy three P-8 aircraft and related equipment in a deal worth $1.8 billion.
Italy Italy indicated interest in purchasing P-8s, with fleet support provided by
Alitalia, in 2004. However, in December 2008, Italy announced the purchase of four
ATR 72 aircraft to replace its aging
Atlantic maritime patrol fleet, possibly as a temporary solution because Italy remained interested in the P-8.
NATO In April 2019, Boeing was reported to be in exploratory talks with various
NATO allies to offer the P-8 as a NATO-shared interim solution to provide European allies with its capabilities until domestic capabilities could be secured.
Saudi Arabia In 2017, Boeing announced it had signed several agreements with
Saudi Arabia, which intends to order the P-8. The
International Institute for Strategic Studies reported in 2019 that a Saudi order for the type was still pending.
Turkey In 2016, Turkey indicated that it planned to acquire a new MMA aircraft to supplement existing assets, the P-8A being the main candidate based on the required performance.
Failed bids Malaysia In December 2017, the
Royal Malaysian Air Force had shortlisted four aircraft types to replace its aging fleet of
Beechcraft Super King Air used as maritime patrol aircraft; the
Airbus C-295, the P-8,
ATR 72 MP, and the
CASA/IPTN CN-235. In May 2023, Malaysia selected the ATR-72MP as its replacement aircraft. ==Variants==