Boeing [BA] signed agreements with ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH and Lufthansa Technik
on June 17 outlining joint efforts to support a potential German P-8A Poseidon selection as the country’s next maritime surveillance aircraft.
Boeing said these memorandum of understanding “may lead to more definitive agreements” if Germany chooses the P-8A.
The German navy is looking for a new naval patrol aircraft to replace its aging P-3C Orions, with the P-8A Poseidon as the favorite as an interim solution. Germany and France are working on a separatie cooperative program called the Maritime Airborne Warfare Systems, but that is not expected to produce a new aircraft until at least 2035, while the German navy needs to replace its P-3Cs within a few years.
Last March, the U.S. State Department approved a potential $1.77 billion Foreign Military Sale of five P-8As to Germany. In that announcement, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Germany planned to retire its fleet of P-3Cs in 2024 and the P-8As would sustain the country’s maritime surveillance aircraft capability for another 30 years (Defense Daily, March 12).
“Together with ESG and Lufthansa Technik, we will offer indigenous and cost-effective support, training and maintenance solutions that will bring the highest operational availability to the German Navy to fulfill their missions,” Michael Haidinger, president of Boeing’s Germany, Central & Eastern Europe, Benelux & Nordics division, said in a statement.
“Our partnership with ESG and Lufthansa Technik is another testimony to who we are and how we operate in Germany. We are shaping meaningful and long-term industry partnerships that impact the local economy,” he added.
Boeing said it and the two German companies identified opportunities to collaborate in several areas and plans to explore them in more detail. This includes training and simulation, cyber security, systems integration, certification, environmental compliance, communications systems, electronic attack and electronic protect systems, aircraft and engine sustainment, component support services, predictive maintenance analysis and logistics services.
“This cooperation agreement underlines once again that we take our responsibility seriously when it comes to ensuring urgently needed capabilities. As Boeing’s strategic partner for the P-8A Poseidon fleet, we are pleased to be able to make the Bundeswehr a viable offer characterized by effectiveness, efficiency and the reliable delivery of services,” Christoph Otten, CEO of ESG, said in a statement,
Relatedly, Boeing said Lufthansa Technik has a long history in technical support of Boeing airplanes globally. Moreover, the company noted that under Boeing’s Performance-Based Logistics program, Lufthansa Technik provides hardware support to the Italian Air Force fleet of Boeing KC-767A tankers.
“Lufthansa and Lufthansa Technik are partners with Boeing for more than 60 years. The companies know and value each other. This partnership is an excellent starting point for us to provide technical support at the highest level for this new aircraft, should our long-standing customer, the German Bundeswehr, procure P-8A,” Michael von Puttkamer, head of Special Aircraft Services, Lufthansa Technik, said in a statement.
Boeing noted other German companies already supplying components to the P-8A include Aljo Aluminium-Bau Jonuscheit GmbH and Nord-Micro GmbH.