The German Ministry of Defence signed a letter of offer and acceptance on June 30 for five Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft under the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process.
With this order, Germany becomes the eighth customer of the multi-mission maritime surveillance aircraft, joining the US, Australia, India, the UK, Norway, South Korea and New Zealand. More than 130 aircraft are in service around the world, accumulating over 300,000 collective flight hours.
Commenting on the announcement, Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing Germany, Central and Eastern Europe, Benelux and the Nordics, said: “Bringing this capability to Germany is not possible without the contributions of German industry. With the P-8A, we will expand our collaboration with German companies, create new jobs and contribute to long-term local economic growth.”
Boeing had earlier signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik and Lufthansa Technik that outline joint efforts to explore potential areas of collaboration in systems integration, training, support and sustainment work for the P-8A should it be selected by Germany.
According to a Boeing release on June 17, the signed memorandum of understanding could lead to more “definitive agreements” in the event that the type was selected as Germany’s new maritime surveillance aircraft.
German companies that already supply parts for the P-8A include Aljo Aluminum-Bau Jonischeit and Nord-Micro.
The deal had long been thought likely following a March 12 release from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency detailing that the US State Department had approved the possible FMS of five P-8A Poseidon aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$1.77 billion.