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Why the P-8A is not a "Spy Plane." A thread:
It& #39;s not designed around its camera or intelligence collection sensors. The camera is very good, and has multiple modes, but it& #39;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& #39;s a 737. A 737 at low altitude is not spying. When it& #39;s not doing that, it flies at about the same altitude as other 737& #39;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/">https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/...
Let& #39;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& #39;s because the P-8A is made to shoot at ships and submarines! And sometimes those submarines are underwater, so it& #39;s got to find them first.
Navy& #39;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">https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-win...
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& #39;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& #39;ve ever had the pleasure of working beside. It& #39;s an art.
The plane& #39;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& #39;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& #39;t comprehensible or meaningful to Jane/John Q. Public, I think that& #39;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.
