A People’s Republic of China (PRC) navy destroyer 161 lased a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime on Feb. 17 while it was flying in the airspace above international waters approximately 380 miles west of Guam.
A People’s Republic of China (PRC) navy destroyer 161 lased a U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft on Feb. 17 while it was flying in the airspace above international waters approximately 380 miles west of Guam.
The U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs News Release states:
‘The P-8A was operating in international airspace in accordance with international rules and regulations. The PRC navy destroyer’s actions were unsafe and unprofessional.
‘Additionally, these acts violate the Code for Unplanned Encounters at Sea (CUES), a multilateral agreement reached at the 2014 Western Pacific Naval Symposium to reduce the chance of an incident at sea. CUES specifically addresses the use of lasers that could cause harm to personnel or damage to equipment. The destroyer’s actions were also inconsistent with a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between U.S. Department of Defense and the Ministry of National Defense of the PRC regarding rules of behavior for safety of air and maritime encounters.
‘The laser, which was not visible to the naked eye, was captured by a sensor onboard the P-8A. Weapons-grade lasers could potentially cause serious harm to aircrew and mariners, as well as ship and aircraft systems.
‘U.S Navy aircraft routinely fly in the Philippine Sea and have done so for many years. U.S. Navy aircraft and ships will continue to fly, sail and operate anywhere international law allows.‘
The P-8A is assigned to VP-45, based out of Jacksonville, Florida, and is forward-deployed to Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa, Japan. The squadron conducts routine operations, maritime patrol and reconnaissance in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations.
In 2013 the Pelicans of VP-45 began their transition from the P-3C Orion to the P-8A Poseidon, according to the unit website. On Jan. 30, 2014, the Pelicans successfully completed their Conventional Weapons Training Proficiency Inspection (CWTPI). Inspectors from Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) -11 Weapons School judged the proficiency of both Aviation Electronics Technicians (AT) and Aviation Ordnancemen (AO) through the process of wire-checking, uploading, and downloading ordnance, such as torpedoes and chaff, on the P-8A aircraft. On Jan. 30, 2014, the Pelicans successfully completed their Conventional Weapons Training Proficiency Inspection (CWTPI). Inspectors from Commander, Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing (CPRW) -11 Weapons School judged the proficiency of both aviation electronics technicians (AT) and aviation Ordnancemen (AO) through the process of wire-checking, uploading, and downloading ordnance, such as torpedoes and chaff, on the P-8A aircraft.
VP-45 obtained Safe for Flight status following an inspection on Feb. 27 – officially completing their transition to the Navy’s new maritime patrol aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon. In doing so, VP-45 became the Navy’s third operational P-8A squadron, following in the footsteps of VP-16 and VP-5.
Photo by MC2 Sean Rinner / U.S. Navy