For dedicated long-range maritime patrol, the P-8 is judged the stronger choice. A purpose-built water bomber could also be better suited to firefighting. The US-2 had been offered for fire suppression, but that proposed role had attracted no buyers at the time of the talk. Its appeal lies in combining search and rescue, maritime patrol, and access to dispersed islands, with firefighting among the possible additional uses. Buying it as a supplement to specialist aircraft would allow a force to use its water access across several missions.
Chapter · 17:32-19:09
Where the US-2 fits beside the P-8
The US-2's combination of rescue, patrol, and island access supports a role alongside specialist aircraft; firefighting remained an unadopted proposal.