Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA)
E2. Naval, defence and maritime law enforcementDefinition
Long-range surveillance/ASW aircraft (e.g., P-8).
A fixed-wing aircraft for long-range maritime surveillance, anti-submarine warfare (ASW), and search and rescue, equipped with radar, electro-optical sensors, magnetic anomaly detectors on some types, sonobuoys, and anti-ship or anti-submarine weapons. The Boeing P-8 Poseidon, based on the 737, replaced the P-3 Orion in US Navy and allied service. MPAs extend a fleet’s reach over the exclusive economic zone and open ocean far beyond a surface ship’s horizon, providing wide-area detection and targeting.
Source: Maritime patrol aircraft type; Boeing P-8 Poseidon, US Navy ASW/surveillance platform (replacing the Lockheed P-3 Orion).