Along the windswept northeastern coast of Scotland, nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft stand poised for deployment at RAF Lossiemouth. Poseidon’s are, essentially, like an EasyJet Boeing aircraft, except grey, almost windowless, and fitted with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare. From tracking submarines to safeguarding undersea cables, their mission is increasingly as much about […]
Along the windswept northeastern coast of Scotland, nine Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft stand poised for deployment at RAF Lossiemouth.
Poseidon’s are, essentially, like an EasyJet Boeing aircraft, except grey, almost windowless, and fitted with sensors and weapons systems for anti-submarine warfare.
From tracking submarines to safeguarding undersea cables, their mission is increasingly as much about data as it is about defence.
As threats emerge both above and below the surface (physical and digital) Lossiemouth has become more than a launchpad for aircraft but a data operations hub at the frontline of national security.
RAF Lossiemouth operates within a wider international framework. Its Poseidons are part of a multinational network supported by NATO allies through the Joint Exploitation and Discussion of Initiatives (JEDI) – a programme that promotes interoperability, standardisation, and shared training among partner nations.
The UK’s nine Poseidons form part of a wider fleet of more than 40 similar aircraft operated by the US, Norway, France, and Canada. This collaboration enables broader surveillance coverage and coordinated maritime monitoring.
“Geography naturally channels vessel movements through areas like the Greenland-Iceland-UK gap,” says squadron leader Pete Armitage, who heads the P-8 Tactical Operations Centre (TOC). “That helps us concentrate efforts where they’re most effective.”
RAF Lossiemouth is the focus of over £700 million in recent infrastructure investment, including the expansion of the Tactical Operations Centre.
“We’re always busy,” says Armitage. “We support defence across a wide range of operations.” That includes monitoring Russian naval activity – as during the King’s coronation – and protecting subsea infrastructure.
Armitage’s team of 109, set to grow to 190, delivers mission-critical intelligence, operational planning, and cyber support. “Let’s make no bones about It, our job is to protect the continuous at-sea nuclear deterrent…and we do that by knowing where the other people are.”
“We do that by building recognised maritime pictures of surface and subsurface – knowing where the people are that we would not like to be within arms-reach of the vanguard submarines.”
Norwegian personnel training on UK P-8 aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth
At RAF Lossiemouth, data is now treated as a strategic asset.
“We’re responsible for the digital, IT, and communication services for all branches of the military,” adds Toby Miwlright from Defence Digital, a division of the Ministry of Defence. “We ensure platforms like the P-8 integrate securely with the UK’s defence networks.”
That requires a robust digital infrastructure on site. “Instead of sending vast amounts of raw data to central servers,” Milwright says, “we process it locally. That allows for more efficient, timely, and secure mission execution.”
The role of NetApp
Supporting these digital operations is NetApp, a US-based enterprise data company that provides the local storage and management infrastructure at Lossiemouth.
Each P-8 flight collects vast volumes of operational data (sonar, radar, video, and other sensor feeds) which must be securely stored, analysed, and shared quickly to inform timely decisions.
However, with this, comes challenges in data management, potential data degradation in transit, analysis, and cybersecurity.
NetApp addresses these challenges using its E-Series flash storage arrays, fitted on board each aircraft, to enable data ingest during flight. Once on the ground, data is offloaded into NetApp’s StorageGrid object storage system, which organises and secures it for wider access.
“We’re really delivering end-to-end infrastructure solutions that enable, whether on land, in the air, or underwater, data ingestion through a centralised infrastructure,” explains Huw Davies, the MOD account manager at NetApp.
Huw Davies, account director for MOD at NetApp
This supports a faster turnaround between sorties and allows analysts to access the data they need, when they need it – whether locally or at MOD sites across the UK. Data is encrypted both at rest and in transit.
According to NetApp, its architecture makes sure that only authorised users with appropriate permissions can access sensitive intelligence, helping protect national defence networks from cyber threats.
But it’s not just about protection. NetApp’s infrastructure helps the RAF turn raw data into actionable intelligence.
Analysts can sift through post-mission data for patterns and trends – insights that inform future sorties, such as adjusting patrol routes or liaising with Navy warships for real-time response.
NetApp’s StorageGrid also supports automated lifecycle management, so data can be retained, archived, or purged based on mission relevance and security protocols, which means the RAF can balance storage costs while ensuring operational readiness.
The results? Improved P-8 operational efficiency, smarter decision-making, and a more agile response cycle.
