The German Ministry of Defense has signed a letter of offer and acceptance for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the U.S. government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process in order to bolster its maritime surveillance capabilities.
With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the P-8A aircraft, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea and New Zealand.
“Boeing is honored to provide Germany with the world’s most capable maritime surveillance aircraft,” said Michael Hostetter, Boeing Defense, Space & Security vice president in Germany.
“We will continue to work with the U.S. government, the German government and industry to establish a robust sustainment package that will ensure the German Navy’s P-8A fleet is mission ready.”
The P-8A Poseidon is designed to offer unique multimission capability that meets the full range of maritime challenges faced by European nations, such as anti-submarine warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft can also be used for search-and-rescue operations.
“Bringing this capability to Germany is not possible without the contributions of German industry,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Benelux and the Nordics.
“With the P-8A, we will expand our collaboration with German companies, create new jobs and contribute to long-term local economic growth.”
German companies that already supply parts for the P-8A include Aljo Aluminum-Bau Jonischeit GmbH and Nord-Micro GmbH.
Boeing signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik to collaborate in systems integration, training, support and sustainment work.
By working with local suppliers, Boeing will provide support, training and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to fulfill the German Navy’s missions.
The P-8A aircraft has been deployed around the world with more than 130 aircraft in service, and over 300,000 collective flight hours.
