German Navy Takes Delivery of Three P-8s

The German Navy has taken delivery of its first three P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft and has already deployed on the first few missions, according to Capt. Broder Nielsen, commander of German Naval Aviation Command. The aircraft are among eight under contract with delivery anticipated to continue through 2029.

During a briefing at the Farnborough International Airshow, Nielsen noted that the addition of the P-8 “marks the establishment of modern maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare capability for the German Navy, and it will significantly enhance our contribution to NATO’s maritime security as well.”

Germany took delivery of the first example last October, and within three months the aircraft had deployed to India, he added. The P-8s have also participated in anti-submarine warfare exercises. “For a newly introduced platform, this was really a remarkable achievement…The results really have been highly encouraging,” he said, adding that the training, logistics, and aircraft availability have run smoothly, boosting the program’s readiness.

The P-8, a special missions variant of the Boeing 737NG series, is supporting the German Navy’s missions in the North Sea and in the Baltic region. Nielsen remarked on how critical the protection of these regions is to NATO; Germany is operating alongside other nations safeguarding the regions with the twinjet, such as Norway, which has taken delivery of five, and the UK, which has nine in its fleet.

Other P-8 customers in the High North region include Canada, which has 14 on contract, and Denmark, which plans to add two to its fleet. In all, Boeing has sold 207 P-8s, with eight operators currently flying them. The fleet has accumulated more than 730,000 hours.

“Through regular exchanges, common procedures, and multinational exercises, we are building a highly integrated maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare network,” he said.

Tim Flood, senior regional director of international business development for Europe and the Americas at Boeing Defense, Space & Security, noted that the aircraft—which entered operational service with the U.S. Navy in 2013—continues to go through an upgrade cycle, with the latest Increment 3 Block 2 package covering anti-submarine warfare, beyond-line-of-sight communications, and sensor upgrades.

These are particularly important with the threats seen in the High North region, whether against shipping or other activities, he said.

In more recent missions, a P-8A helped the UK to expose covert Russian submarine operations in and around UK waters; a German aircraft has headed to Norway and Iceland for sub-hunting missions, and the aircraft was flown to the North Pole.