The U.S. Navy is investing an additional $55.8 million in ground infrastructure to support its P-8A Poseidon fleet. Dayton T. Brown Inc. will provide equipment under a modification to its existing Mobile Mission Systems contract.
The award includes materials for five P-8 ground systems and 21 fly-away kits. These systems support modifications, upgrades and integration work around the aircraft’s mission architecture.
The Navy also exercised options that expand support for DTB mobile mission systems. Work at the company’s Hollywood, Maryland location will continue through March 2027.
Ground systems receive upgrades
The P-8A is best known as a maritime patrol aircraft, but its mission extends far beyond the airframe. Ground equipment represents part of the infrastructure required to prepare, support and manage these missions. This equipment must also keep pace with the evolution of the aircraft.
The new funding targets this layer of the P-8A ecosystem. DTB will procure the materials necessary to modify existing systems and provide additional functionality. Five P-8 ground systems fall under the material portion of the award. The Navy will also receive 21 fly-away kits through the work.
These kits provide crews with portable equipment that can support operations outside of fixed facilities. Their inclusion adds a mobility element to the broader ground systems effort.
Mobile support follows the missions
A fly-away kit can help bring mission support equipment closer to the scene. This capability is important for an aircraft built to perform missions in vast ocean areas. Supporting infrastructure may need to travel as flight operations move between locations.
The devices must also work with existing systems. Integration therefore becomes an important part of rolling out upgrades without disrupting the larger mission build.
The material will support subsystem changes as well as broader modifications. This work may include replacing components, adding new devices, or adapting existing interfaces.
Such changes are important because mission systems rarely function as isolated hardware units. For crews to use the capabilities effectively, communications, data and ground equipment must work together.
DTB’s Mission Systems Division will operate from Maryland. The client is the aircraft department of the Naval Air Warfare Center on Patuxent River.
DTB expands naval support
DTB President Jim Kelly said the award reflects the Navy’s continued confidence in the company’s technical support.
“Our team is proud to continue supporting the U.S. Navy’s P-8A Mobile Mission Systems mission,” Kelly said. Kelly said DTB will continue to provide engineering and technical support to the program.
The P-8A Poseidon is based on a range of interconnected aircraft and ground capabilities. Changes to one part may require equipment and integration work elsewhere in the system.
This makes the $55.8 million award more than a simple device purchase. Much of the work focuses on keeping the supporting infrastructure ready for the next round of mission changes.
The Navy expects DTB’s work under the change to be completed in March 2027. The award provides the program with additional material capabilities as it continues to develop its mission systems.
