As part of the official commissioning of the P-8A Poseidon in Nordholz BoeingLufthansa Technik Defense and Hensoldt (contractual partner ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH) signed a long-term Performance Based Logistics contract (PBL). The agreement marks an important milestone in strengthening Germany’s maritime patrol capabilities. For Boeing, this is the first contract of this kind in Germany since the support of the F-4 Phantom of the German Armed Forces in the early 1980s.
The new, multi-year agreements worth several hundred million euros include a German value-added share of over fifty percent. They form the basis of a comprehensive logistical supply and maintenance concept that ensures the safe entry into service, airworthiness and operational readiness of the German P-8A Poseidon fleet.
“This milestone is the result of years of close collaboration with the Bundeswehr and our German industry partners,” said Stephen Schmidt, Senior Program Manager for Global P-8 Sustainment at Boeing. “We are proud to deliver a customized, performance-driven solution that ensures the safe safe entry into service of the German P-8A fleet and enables the German Navy to fulfill its national and regional mission commitments from day one in close cooperation with its global partners.”
The PBL contract forms the basis of a strategic partnership between Boeing, the Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (BAAINBw), the German Navy and German industrial partners Lufthansa Technik Defense and Hensoldt. “The contract creates an innovative logistics and maintenance system that maximizes the German work share, creates world-class maintenance capabilities, establishes a digital logistics and performance management system and ensures the efficient provision of support and training services,” according to a recent press release. The new structure is therefore “fully tailored to the operational and regulatory requirements of the German Navy”.
Bundesheer steigert Leistungsfähigkeit seiner Jagdkommando-Soldaten
The German P-8A Poseidon industrial team draws on the global capabilities and experience of the P-8 network (including the USA, UK and Canada). This international network supports the German Navy’s digital maintenance and supply system and complements it with engineering services, supply chain management and digital aircraft services.
Lufthansa Technik Defense will be responsible for the basic maintenance and repair of the aircraft at the Hamburg sites and will also expand its existing P-8 component support offering for Germany. Germany is the third international P-8 customer after the UK and New Zealand to draw on Lufthansa Technik Defense’s extensive capabilities, including training in maintenance and engine technology.
Dorthe Nell, Head of Acquisition Defense Programs at Lufthansa Technik: “At Lufthansa Technik, we are known for delivering one thing above all else to our customers around the world: operational availability. We have also built up unique expertise in the technical support of the Boeing 737 over decades, and I am delighted that we can now demonstrate this knowledge to the German Navy.”
Hensoldt (contractual partner ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH) will provide the entire logistics, material management and ground equipment at the Nordholz naval air base and in operational use, and is also expanding its existing IT and mission system services. Dietmar Thelen, Managing Director of ESG and member of Hensoldt’s Group Executive Committee, welcomes the extensive involvement of German partners: “We are very proud to be an active part of the P-8A family in Germany. As a reliable partner of the Bundeswehr and the Boeing industry team, we are contributing our diverse capabilities and many years of experience to the P-8A program – for the benefit of the naval aviators and for the safety of us all.”
Here for further reports on the Bundeswehr, here to further reports about Boeing and here to further Hensoldt reports.
