Reg.: n/a

United States

DB flags: military

Type: P8 ?

BOEING P-8 Poseidon

Type Desc.:L2J

Squawk:4411

The P-8 Poseidon is equipped with a sensor system referred to as a "Sniffer," which is designed to detect engine exhaust fumes from submarines using an air scoop on the outer fuselage.

This system was reportedly adopted by the U.S. Navy as a substitute for the Magnetic Anomaly Detection (MAD) tail boom, which was omitted to save weight and due to the reduced magnetic signature of modern submarines.

The Sniffer system is believed to be particularly useful for detecting diesel-electric submarines (SSKs) that operate on the surface or at periscope depth, where engine exhaust is more detectable.

However, its effectiveness against modern nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs) with low acoustic and magnetic signatures remains uncertain, as these vessels are more challenging to detect through exhaust alone.

The U.S. Navy has also explored other solutions, such as integrating a MAD sensor on an air-launched unmanned targeting system, to compensate for the absence of a tail-mounted MAD on the P-8.