German army becomes eighth worldwide to operate Boeing’s Poseidon maritime aircraft

Germany has received its first of eight P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft from US manufacturer Boeing, set to replace the navy’s aging P-3C Orion fleet. 

The aircraft was delivered this week at Boeing’s Seattle facility and is expected to arrive at Naval Air Wing 3 “Graf Zeppelin” in Nordholz, Lower Saxony, following final inspections next month, as German media outlets report.

Berlin initially signed a contract for five Poseidons in 2021, later adding three more in 2023, with German media estimating the total cost at €3.1 billion. Three units are slated for delivery by the end of this year, with the remaining aircraft scheduled to be handed over by 2029.

Since 2006, eight P-3C Orion maritime patrol aircraft have been in service, but they were only partially operational. These were propeller-driven aircraft previously already used by the Netherlands, requiring significant investment to maintain. The last two Orion planes are scheduled to be retired permanently at the end of this year.

With this acquisition, Germany becomes the eighth nation to operate the P-8A Poseidon, joining the US, UK, Australia, Norway, India, South Korea, and New Zealand.

Vice Adm. Jan Christian Kaack, inspector of the German Navy, described the Poseidon as a “flying sentinel” representing “a quantum leap in range, sensor technology, and endurance.”

Boeing program manager Tory Peterson also highlighted the milestone, saying the Poseidon is “a proven and interoperable aircraft that will enable the German Navy and its NATO allies to effectively detect and engage threats above and below the surface.”

The Boeing P-8A Poseidon is a militarized variant of the 737-800 airliner, designed for submarine tracking, surveillance, and anti-ship missions.

Powered by two CFM turbofan engines, the aircraft can reach speeds of 490 knots (907 km/h). It operates at altitudes up to 12,497 meters and has a maximum range of 4,500 nautical miles (8,334 km).

For combat operations, the Poseidon can carry torpedoes, depth charges, naval mines, and multi-role missiles.

By Nazrin Sadigova