The latest contract for Boeing’s P-8A Poseidon includes a new software capability for the US Navy’s aircraft that will automatically correlate data from sources including sea search radars and electromagnetic spectrum sensors.

The USN awarded Boeing a $60.8 million contract as part of the Increment 3 Block 2 improvements for the Poseidon on 5 August. The aircraft’s third increment is expected to reach initial operational capability by 2020, and would improve Poseidon’s ability to detect submarines and surface vessels.

The newest modification matures the Block 2 capabilities and includes multi-static active coherent enhancement, new computing and security architecture, common data link upgrades and a new software upgrade known as the Minotaur Track Management and Mission Management system.

US Navy

Developed by the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Minotaur ingests data from various sensors and disseminates the information to aircraft, a Naval Air Systems Command spokesperson tells FlightGlobal. The software’s baseline capabilities includes surface radar tracking, sensor bias correction, data correlation, mission replay, sensor control, sensor display and track management. Minotaur has already been fielded on other US Navy, Air Force and Customs and Border Patrol aircraft.

Minotaur was designed to integrate sensors and data into a comprehensive picture, and will allow multiple aircraft and vessels to share networked information.

Source: FlightGlobal.com