Despite the uncertainty following Brexit, the United Kingdom may ink deals this week during the Farnborough International Airshow for Boeing Co.-made AH-64 Apache helicopters and P-8 Poseidon maritime surveillance aircraft.
As my colleague Hope Hodge Seck reported at Military.com:
Dan Darling, a senior analyst covering European military markets for the analysis firm Forecast International, said he's paying attention to a $3.2 billion U.K. order for nine Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft that is expected to be announced at Farnborough.The plan to obtain the submarine-hunting planes was announced late last year as the British government rolled out its Strategic Defense and Security Review, a five-year strategy document that called for a reconstitution of the nation's maritime reconnaissance arm.
"Some of these contracts may weigh a little heavily on other planning," Darling told Military.com. "Do you sacrifice other things to get all nine of these Poseidons?"
Another reportedly upcoming U.K. deal with Boeing is for 50 AH-64E Apaches at $2.6 billion to refresh its aging Apache fleet.
Read the rest of the story at Military.com. See more of our show coverage at our news page.
Of course, many industry observers will also be watching the show for news about the F-35, which after years of delay is finally making its Farnborough debut. The Brits plan to buy some 138 of the B-models for eventual use aboard a pair of Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carriers equipped with a ski-jump ramp.
Hope is on the ground at Farnborough as part of three-person news team from Military.com. Send story ideas and tips at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck.
