P-8A system

This is the new system that will replace the P-3 Orion.

I was wondering whether this craft will use fly by wire systems or would it use hydraulics?

Link to its website

Has it replaced Japan's P-X program as well?

Does anyone know exactly when the 737 program began? I believe it was 1967. So in reality we have a near forty year old airframe design albeit "updated." Too bad Boeing did not marry the airframe to a more modern forward fuselage like the 767 or 787 at least. Indeed, as it is the forward fuselage is derived from the 707 no doubt.

[edit on 24-1-2006 by templar8]

The 737 is the perfect plane that is currently being built for this mission. You aren't going to want to use something bigger, because you're going to do a lot of low slow flight. Anything bigger just doesn't make sense.

IIRC the 737-800/900 are fly by wire, and the earlier models are hydraulic cables.

This is not the same 737 from the 70's it has a lot of improvements.
However its old age i think was a point in favour. The fact that an airframe had so many hours on its shoulder proved its resistance critical for the mission intended.

Many people didn't believe a jet could perform like a turboprop, Lockheed wanted to sell an improved P-3...