Germany bought the 5 P-8A Poseidon in order to replace its P-3C Orion

Today, the US Navy,  awarded Boeing a production contract for five P-8A Poseidon aircraft for the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr). The first deliveries are scheduled for 2024.

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Last June, the powerful German parliament’s budget committee approved the purchase of five Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and their logistics and maintenance package to replace the Lockheed P-3C Orion of Marinefliegergeschwader 3.

It’s official! Five new #P8 Poseidon aircraft will equip the @deutschemarine. We look forward to bringing the P-8A and its unique multi-mission capabilities to Germany's #Marineflieger.

Release: https://t.co/PqprzQjDQS pic.twitter.com/mj7qUMArXn

— Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) September 28, 2021

“We’re pleased to have finalized this sale to Germany and to expand our footprint in-country by bringing the P-8A and its unique multi-mission capabilities to the German Navy,” said Michael Hostetter, vice president, Boeing Defense, Space & Security, Germany. “The P-8 will ensure the German Navy’s ability to perform long-range maritime surveillance missions and will play a pivotal role in the region by leveraging existing infrastructure in Europe and full interoperability with NATO’s most advanced assets.”

German industry is a critical partner with the P-8A Poseidon program. By working with local partners, Boeing will provide support, training, and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to fulfill the German Navy’s missions. On June 17, Boeing signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik AG to collaborate in systems integration, training, and sustainment work. German companies that currently supply parts for the P-8A include Aircraft Philipp Group GmbH, Aljo Aluminium-Bau Jonuscheit GmbH, and Nord-Micro GmbH.

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“With strategic agreements and industry partnerships already in place, we stand ready to deliver a robust sustainment package for the German Navy’s P-8A fleet,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, president, Boeing Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Benelux, and Nordics. “Together with the German Navy, the Federal Ministry of Defense, and local industry, we will ensure maximum operational availability that will allow the German Navy to meet the full range of its maritime challenges.”

The contract signed with Boeing by the US Navy on behalf of Germany under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) is for $756,634,580 which should cover the construction of the aircraft. There is potentially another $1 billion in associated contracts to be signed, covering P-8A equipment, logistics support, training, armament, etc., which would make up the package authorized by the U.S. State Department for sale to Germany.

Deployed around the world with more than 135 aircraft in service, and over 350,000 collective mishap-free flight hours, the P-8A will significantly advance Germany’s anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance; and search-and-rescue mission capabilities.

Germany is the eighth nation to have acquired the P-8A, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea and New Zealand.