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Why the P-8A is not a "Spy Plane." A thread:
It's not designed around its camera or intelligence collection sensors. The camera is very good, and has multiple modes, but it's not why the plane exists. For an example of a "Spy Plane" with a capital "S," see U-2 Dragon Lady.
The P-8A is designed to conduct low-altitude missions like search and rescue (SAR) and anti-submarine warfare. It's a 737. A 737 at low altitude is not spying. When it's not doing that, it flies at about the same altitude as other 737's, ~40K feet.
P-8A pilots wear ballcaps in the seat and can get up to walk around during flight. Crews take coffee machines on flights and make breakfast burritos.
By way of comparison, U-2 pilots wear special suits and helmets because their aircraft flies at such extreme heights (for the spying). https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/aviation/a30362885/u-2-moon-suit/
Let's talk about what the P-8A is designed to carry. The graphic below is from Boeing, and shows what a combat loadout might look like, using hardpoints on the wing, the internal bomb bay, and buoy launcher.
"But Blake!" you exclaim, "Why would a spy plane carry all that ordnance?!"
Well, friend, that's because the P-8A is made to shoot at ships and submarines! And sometimes those submarines are underwater, so it's got to find them first.
Navy's also looking for ways to integrate LRASM, Quickstrike mines, and bombs. https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/us-navy-plans-to-arm-p-8a-with-cruise-missiles-bombs-sea-mines-and-decoys/136533.article
A P-8A has a whole aircrew in the tube, officers and enlisted, who make the real magic happen (the pilots sort of drive the bus, no offense @maz_jovanovich). What's the most difficult thing they train to do? Find submarines.
Aircrews trained to locate and identify submarines by their acoustic signatures are some of the most incredibly skilled sailors I've ever had the pleasure of working beside. It's an art.
The plane's radar is even designed to locate a periscope in the water in one particular mode. Spotting that so-called "feather in the water" is a pretty specialized task.
In summation - the P-8A is indeed a multi-mission aircraft. It *can* and *does* perform intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, with great results.
But the mission we need it for is anti-submarine warfare, with anti-surface right behind, and that's what the crews really train to do.
When we say the difference between a plane like the U-2 and one like the P-8 isn't comprehensible or meaningful to Jane/John Q. Public, I think that's really dumb. I think @cdrsalamander agrees. Thus endeth the rant.
@JerryHendrixII may also have feelings about the VP Navy being blaggarded in this manner.
