US Navy awards Boeing $3.4 billion contract for 17 P-8A Poseidon Aircraft for Germany and Canada

Europe, News, US March 5, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

The United States Navy has awarded Boeing a $3.4 billion contract to produce 17 P-8A Poseidon Multi-Mission Maritime Patrol Aircraft for Canada and Germany.

The U.S. Department of Defense announced its approval of the contract and said that 14 of the 17 Poseidon planes will be delivered to Canada by March 2028 to replace its aging fleet of CP-140 Auroras. Germany would receive 3 aircraft under the same timeline.

Philip June, Vice President and Program Manager of Boeing’s P-8A program, welcomed Canada’s decision to opt for Poseidon P-8A as the replacement for its aging fleet of maritime patrol aircraft. He also welcomed Germany’s expansion in its maritime patrol aircraft fleet with the Poseidon aircraft.

June said that with a proven track record of over 600,000 flight hours, the P-8A stands as a reliable asset ready to effectively address the evolving security challenges confronting both nations.

“We are proud to add Canada to the list of international P-8 partners as well as to Germany’s fleet of maritime patrol aircraft,” June said in a statement released by Boeing. “The Poseidon is a proven aircraft, with more than 600,000 flight hours, that will serve Canada and Germany well in today’s challenging security environment and for decades to come,” he added.

Canada announced its decision to acquire the U.S.-made P-8A Poseidon aircraft back in November 2023. The first P-8A for Canada is expected to be delivered as early as 2026.

*^{U.S. Navy P-8A Poseidon Aircraft. (Image Credit: U.S. Navy/Greg L. Davis)}*

Boeing has announced that it would partner with Canadian and German defense companies to manufacture aircraft units aligned with the specific requirements of their respective naval forces.

In Ottawa, Boeing will join forces with CAE, Honeywell Aerospace Canada, Raytheon Canada, and various others. Boeing also announced that this joint venture would create over 14,000 jobs in Canada. Additionally, two German firms will be engaged to provide systems integration, training, and support and sustainment services for the future P-8A Poseidons of the German Navy.

Vince Logsdon, a representative from Boeing, emphasized the need for proven advanced capabilities to safeguard countries worldwide, stating, “Together with our partners, we anticipate delivering this unparalleled capability, along with significant industrial advantages for Canada’s and Germany’s aerospace and defense sectors.”

P-8A Poseidon Multi-Mission Maritime Aircraft

Designed as a military adaptation of the Boeing 737 commercial aircraft, the P-8A Poseidon was acquired by the U.S. Navy as a replacement for the P-3 Orion maritime surveillance aircraft.

Equipped with a comprehensive suite of capabilities, the P-8A features an active and passive acoustic sensor system, synthetic aperture radar, electronic support measures system, and an electro-optical/infrared sensor dedicated to tracking enemy aircraft or missiles.

*^{P-8 Poseidon Cockpit. P-8 Aircraft at Cecil Field in Jacksonville, Florida. (Image Credit: Boeing)}*

Capable of executing diverse military missions, it excels in long-range maritime and littoral patrols, search and rescue operations, as well as anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare. In addition to the United States, the Poseidon is also used by major air and naval forces in the world including Australia, the United Kingdom, Norway, and New Zealand.