Airbus develops A321MPA as competitor to Boeing's P-8A Poseidon

The Airbus A321MPA is a new entrant in the maritime patrol aircraft market, designed to compete with Boeing's P-8A Poseidon. The A321MPA is a variant of the Airbus A321XLR and is currently under development. An Airbus spokesperson confirmed that "the French Defence Procurement Agency has not made a final decision on the A321MPA."

The aircraft is intended to meet the requirements of the French Air Force for a new maritime patrol aircraft. Unlike some competitors, it will not have aerial refueling capability, as this was not requested by France. According to an Airbus spokesperson, "Thus the design of the A321 MPA with its large weapons bay offers a high degree of adaptability to carry various weapons and other equipment that may be required as operational concepts evolve, without any weapons under the wings."

The A321XLR serves as the basis for this new model. It features a flight range of 4,700 nautical miles and a top speed of Mach 0.82. An Airbus spokesperson noted that "the A321XLR was chosen to be the basis of a maritime patrol aircraft variant because it features generous space in the transport role with a wide cabin and lower deck that provide extensive growth capability."