Aussie spy planes worked overtime during nearby Chinese naval drills

MELBOURNE, Australia — Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft took center stage in Australia’s and New Zealand’s joint response during a surprise appearance last month of Chinese warships sailing around Australia, while the nations’ numbers of surface combatants have been dwindling, according to officials and analysts.

Responding to a question from Defense News at Avalon International Airshow 2025 – held here March 25-30 – a crewman said that Australian P-8As performed “high-duration, high-frequency sorties” whilst the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) ships voyaged around the continent.