VIDEO: German sustainment partner ‘really proud’ to welcome P-8A Poseidon
An in-country supplier delivers solutions that will allow the German Navy to fly the P-8A Poseidon for decades to come.
With the first P-8A Poseidon set to be delivered to Germany next year, sustainment partner ESG Elektroniksystem-und Logistik-GmbH is establishing an infrastructure that will allow the German Navy to transition to its newest platform smoothly and successfully.
Boeing has partnered with two major suppliers – ESG and Lufthansa Technik – to deliver systems integration, training, support and sustainment work for the P-8 aircraft, ensuring high operational availability for the German Navy's mission.
Sustainment partners ensure that each multi-mission maritime aircraft remains in service. Perry Yaw, P-8 business development manager, said the importance of the suppliers cannot be overstated.
“Sustainment suppliers are absolutely critical to the warfighter in keeping this airplane operating, flying and in the fight where we need it,” Yaw continued, “in the air and not on the ground. It’s that simple.”
Boeing P-8 International Program Manager David Barnes (left) gives ESG business development leaders David Franz (middle) and Andreas Hauck (right) an exterior tour of a P-8A aircraft. (Boeing photo)
ESG served as Germany’s in-country sustainment partner for the P-8s predecessor, the P-3 Orion, and is also providing integration support for the CH-47F Chinook, which the German government selected as its new heavy-lift helicopter in June 2022.
“We set up a lot of good relations and infrastructure processes where we are embedded with the German Navy in service provisioning, helping them conducting their mission,” explained Andreas Hauck, a business development leader for ESG who recently visited the P-8 modification line in Tukwila, Washington.
“The aircraft is not (delivered) yet, but we are already contributing to the processes alongside Boeing, so that is a great success story in the making.
The German Navy will receive its first of eight P-8A Poseidon aircraft in 2025. (Boeing photo)
Germany officially increased its P-8A buy to eight aircraft when the U.S. Navy awarded Boeing a $3.4 billion contract on Feb. 29. The award also included 14 Poseidon aircraft for the Royal Canadian Air Force.
Germany and Canada become the eighth and ninth countries who are operating or have ordered the P-8, respectively. With 200 aircraft in service or on contract, the proven Poseidon has amassed more than 600,000 flight hours among operating countries.
For Hauck and ESG, the opportunity to integrate this multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft with the German Navy is a momentous occasion.
“Considering ourselves as a strategic partner in-country (with the German Navy), that makes us really proud,” Hauck said. “The road ahead is clear, and we’re really looking forward to the journey.”
