Deutsche Marine P-9A Poseidon MPA (2024)

The German Ministry of Defense on 30 June 2021 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. With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the multimission maritime surveillance aircraft, joining the United States, Australia, India, the United Kingdom, Norway, Korea and New Zealand.

Defense Minister Kramp-Karrenbauer expressed her joy that the purchase of the five new maritime patrol aircraft had thus begun. The budget committee of the Bundestag had approved the procurement the week before. the United States now would begin "Foreign Military Sales" procedure. One of the next steps is to sign the actual contract, with a volue of around 1.1 billion euros.

Procuring these Maritime Patrol Aircraft is imperative for the Navy in order to maintain the capability of long-range reconnaissance over the sea and extensive anti-submarine defense from the air. The gap between 2025 and 2035 arose because the Bundeswehr had completed the modernization of the Navy's previous maritime patrol aircraft, the P-3C Orion, in June 2020. The Franco-German follow-up project, the Maritime Airborne Warfare System, should be implemented by 2035. After a review of military aircraft of this type available on the market, the Bundeswehr assessed the P-8A Poseidon as a powerful interim solution.

The P-8A Poseidon offers unique multimission aircraft capability and is the only aircraft in service and in production able to meet the full range of maritime challenges faced by European nations. With the P-8A, Germany will be able to leverage full integration and interoperability with NATO nations in the region. Additionally, the P-8A offers significant capability to meet Germany’s collective defense obligations as part of Germany’s NATO membership and commitment to EU defense and security, including the maritime domain.

With the P-8, Germany will be able to use full interoperability with other P-8A operating countries during NATO exercises in the North Atlantic and in the North and Baltic Seas. The P-8A provides important capabilities for fulfilling Germany's collective defense obligations as part of its NATO membership and its commitment to the defense and security of the EU, including the maritime sector.

After the completion of the modernization measures on the P-3C Orion in June 2020, the Bundeswehr was threatened with a capability gap that could not be tolerated. For this reason, the Bundeswehr carried out a market survey that included all platforms available on the market. In addition to covering operational needs, this analysis also took into account all interactions on the German-French cooperation project Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS). With the choice of the P-8A Poseidon, a powerful interim solution has now been introduced. After withdrawing from the P-3C Orion project, the aircraft serves to maintain the ability to carry out fast, long-range, airborne submarine hunting and long-range reconnaissance for the period from 2025 to 2035. Subsequently, the Franco-German cooperation project Maritime Airborne Warfare System (MAWS) these skills are taken over.

On 12 March 2021 the US State Department made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Germany of P-8A Aircraft and Associated Support, and related equipment, for an estimated cost of $1.77 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.

The Government of Germany has requested to buy five (5) P-8A Patrol Aircraft; nine (9) Multifunctional Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems 5 (MIDS JTRS 5); and twelve (12) LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGls). Also included are commercial engines; Tactical Open Mission Software (TOMS); Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared MX-20HD; AN/ AAQ-2(V) I Acoustic System; AN/APY-10 radar; ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures; NexGen Missile Warning Sensors; AN/PRC-117G Manpack radios include MPE-S type II with SAASM 3.7; Global Positioning Systems (GPS) 524D Precise Positioning System (PPS) for APY-10 Radar; AN/ALQ-213 Electronic Counter Measures; AN/ALE-47 Counter Measures Dispensing Systems; AN/UPX IFF Interrogators; APX-123A(C) IFF Digital Transponders; KIV-78 IFF Mode 5 Cryptographic Appliques; CCM-701A Cryptographic Core Modules; KY-100M, KY-58, KYV-5 for HF-121C radios; AN/PYQ-10 V3 Simple Key Loaders (SKL) with KOV-21 Cryptographic Appliques; aircraft spares; spare engine; support equipment; operational support systems; training; training devices; maintenance trainer/classrooms; publications; software; engineering technical assistance (ETA); logistics technical assistance (LTA); Country Liaison Officer (CLO) support; Contractor Engineering Technical Services (CETS); repair and return (RoR); transportation; aircraft ferry; and other associated training and support; and other related elements of logistics and program support.

This sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally which is an important force for political and economic stability in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Germany’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing critical capabilities to coalition maritime operations. Germany currently operates the Lockheed P-3C Orion, but that aircraft is reaching end-of-life and will retire in 2024. Germany plans to replace it with the P-8A Poseidon. The proposed sale will allow Germany to modernize and sustain its Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) capability for the next 30 years. Germany will have no difficulty transitioning its MSA force to P-8 and absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of the proposed sale will require the assignment of four (4) U.S. Government and four (4) contractor representatives to Germany for a duration of two (2) years to support equipment familiarization, training and supply support. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

Boeing signed agreements 17 June 2021 with ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik that outline joint efforts to explore potential areas of collaboration in systems integration, training, support and sustainment work. The signed memorandum of understanding may lead to more definitive agreements should Germany select the P-8A Poseidon as its next maritime surveillance aircraft.

“Together with ESG and Lufthansa Technik, we will offer indigenous and cost-effective support, training and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to the German Navy to fulfill their missions,” said Dr. Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Benelux & Nordics. “Our partnership with ESG and Lufthansa Technik is another testimony to who we are and how we operate in Germany. We are shaping meaningful and long-term industry partnerships that impact the local economy.”

Boeing, ESG and Lufthansa Technik have identified opportunities to collaborate in a number of areas and will explore these in more detail, including training and simulation, cyber security, systems integration, certification, environmental compliance, communications systems, electronic attack and electronic protect systems, aircraft and engine sustainment, component support services, predictive maintenance analysis and logistics services.

Other German companies that already supply components to the P-8A Poseidon include Aljo Aluminium-Bau Jonuscheit GmbH and Nord-Micro GmbH.