Boeing has secured a major $3.4 billion contract from the U.S. Navy to manufacture 17 P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, the company announced on February 29th. The deal includes 14 new P-8s for the Royal Canadian Air Force and three additional aircraft for the German Navy.
Philip June, Vice President and Program Manager of Boeing’s P-8A program, said:
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. 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.
Canada’s Poseidon procurement
In November 2023, Canada announced plans to acquire the P-8A Poseidon to replace its aging CP-140 Aurora fleet. The first Canadian P-8 is expected for delivery in 2026.
Boeing estimates the P-8 acquisition could generate over 3,000 annual jobs for Canadian aerospace firms and add at least $358 million to Canada’s GDP over 10 years. Canadian companies like CAE, GE Aviation, IMP Aerospace, and others are part of the “Team Poseidon” industrial partnership.
Vince Logsdon, Boeing’s VP of International Business Development, stated:
Our global customers require proven advanced capabilities to protect their countries — the P-8 provides that defense. Together with our partners, we look forward to delivering this unmatched capability in addition to significant industrial benefits for Canada’s and Germany’s aerospace and defense industries.
Expanding Germany’s fleet
For Germany, the three new P-8s will expand their existing fleet to eight aircraft, following an initial five-plane purchase in 2021. Replacing the German Navy’s P-3 Orion patrol planes, the first new German P-8 arrives in 2025.
Boeing has partnered with ESG and Lufthansa Technik in Germany for systems integration, training, support, and sustainment of the P-8 fleet.
With over 600,000 flight hours logged, the P-8 Poseidon is a proven multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft. Currently, 200 P-8s are in service or on order across nine nations, including the U.S., U.K., India, Australia, and others.
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