Maintenance Notice: Aviationweek.com is currently undergoing system updates. During this time, certain features and functionalities may be partially or fully inaccessible. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your patience.

The Weekly Debrief: Meet The Sierra Nevada P-9A Pale Ale Fleet

Bombardier Dash-8-Q202

One of four P-9As comes equipped with a maritime search radar and an infrared and daylight camera.

Credit: U.S. Air Force
A shadowy group of four Bombardier Dash 8-Q202 turboprops quietly received a new type series designation in the U.S. Air Force inventory. Meet the cheekily named Sierra Nevada P-9A Pale Ale. The first U.S. surveillance fleet with a craft beer as a namesake inherits—ironically?—a counter-drug spy...
Steve Trimble

Steve covers military aviation, missiles and space for the Aviation Week Network, based in Washington, DC.

Subscription Required

 

The Weekly Debrief: Meet The Sierra Nevada P-9A Pale Ale Fleet is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report, an Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN) Market Briefing and is included with your AWIN membership.

Already a member of AWIN or subscribe to Aerospace Daily & Defense Report through your company? Login with your existing email and password.

Not a member?  Learn how you can access the market intelligence and data you need to stay abreast of what's happening in the aerospace and defense community.