The aircraft will now be transferred to Boeing’s Everett facility, where it will undergo further modifications, including the installation of mission systems. Germany has procured a total of eight P-8A Poseidon aircraft in two batches—five in the initial order and three additional units—through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.
According to the original schedule, deliveries were expected between August 2025 and the end of March 2028. However, the timeline may be affected by recent Boeing labour strikes, which temporarily halted work at the Renton production site.
The P-8A Poseidon is set to replace the German Navy’s ageing fleet of Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion aircraft, enhancing the country’s maritime surveillance and anti-submarine warfare capabilities. As part of a bilateral agreement between Germany and the United Kingdom, some of the aircraft will be stationed at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, allowing for closer operational cooperation with British and American Poseidon operators at the base.
Germany will be the third European nation to operate the P-8A Poseidon, following the UK and Norway. Other European countries, including Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy, are also reportedly evaluating potential acquisitions of the aircraft to modernise their maritime patrol fleets.
