Australia to buy eight Boeing Poseidon P-8A spy planes for $3.6 bln

SYDNEY, Feb 21 (Reuters) - Australia will buy eight of Boeing Co's P-8A Poseidon military aircraft for about A$4 billion ($3.6 billion) to help protect its offshore oil and gas interests and maritime borders, the government said on Friday.

($1 = 1.1134 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)

((jim.regan@thomsonreuters.com)(+612 9373-1814)(Reuters Messaging: jim.regan.reuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA MILITARY PLANES/