{"id":14046,"date":"2026-07-24T08:20:56","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:20:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/the-german-navy-cant-get-enough-p-8-patrol-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T08:20:56","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T08:20:56","slug":"the-german-navy-cant-get-enough-p-8-patrol-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sawahsolutions.com\/range\/the-german-navy-cant-get-enough-p-8-patrol-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"The German navy can\u2019t get enough P-8 patrol aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FARNBOROUGH, England\u2014<\/strong>The German navy is buying eight submarine-hunting P-8A aircraft, but it would welcome more, said the nation\u2019s head of naval air warfare.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, eight is not enough. Give me 10, and I will say I need more. And give me 12, I will say give me more,\u201d Capt. Broder Nielsen, the commanding officer of Germany\u2019s naval air command told reporters Wednesday at the Farnborough International Airshow.\u00a0<\/p>\n

NATO countries are working to bolster their anti-submarine capabilities to protect against Russian activity in the region, including attacks on undersea cables. Earlier this month, Denmark agreed to buy two Boeing P-8A Poseidon aircraft and the UK inked a sustainment deal for their aircraft.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe demand for this aircraft is so huge. And to cover these huge areas there, you have to build up a real significant fleet,\u201d which is possible when all the P-8As that are operated across Europe and the North Atlantic are combined, Nielsen said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

It\u2019s becoming increasingly important to \u201cget a clear picture of what is going up in the High North\u2026the threat is there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Germany is drastically boosting its defense spending\u2014which could soon make up a third of federal spending\u2014to hit NATO\u2019s 5 percent of gross domestic product target. The country recently canceled its much delayed, multibillion-dollar F126 frigate program, a platform designed for anti-submarine warfare, in favor of a smaller more commercially ready design.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The German navy is already planning to pair the P-8s with General Atomic\u2019s MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones. But additional unmanned tech\u2014like air-launched effects, which can launch drones from a missile-like tube\u2014isn\u2019t a primary consideration yet as it\u2019s receiving the first few aircraft.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Nielsen said the need for kinetic effects take priority.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in the very early stage of introducing our aircraft. So step by step, I would say. But what is even more important is our capability to launch kinetic effects,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is of high importance that we will receive the torpedoes and also deep precision strike\u201d capabilities.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Anti-ship weapons for the German P-8As are still being considered.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThe German navy lost the ability to fight against surface warships. That was 25 years ago when we lost our [Panavia] Tornadoes and gave it to the [German air force], unfortunately. And ever since, we do not have any missiles in stock anymore against surface ships. So we need long-range surface missiles, and the [Kongsberg] joint strike missile is a valid option.\u201d\n\n<\/svg><\/p>\n<\/div>\n