By Michael Nienaber

Nov 7, 2025 (Bloomberg) – Germany is looking to acquire four more Boeing P-8A Poseidon planes designed for submarine hunting, according to sources familiar with the situation. This comes as the first of the eight planes already ordered has recently landed in Berlin, amid increasing security concerns regarding Russia.

If the Luftwaffe's request is approved, Germany will become one of the largest operators of this aircraft outside the United States. The sources chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of the discussion.

On Friday, the twin-engine jet arrived at the military section of Berlin's airport, where Defense Minister Boris Pistorius examined the aircraft and talked with the crew about its features. He mentioned to reporters that “at least” seven more Poseidons will be coming soon.

The new planes will be based at the Nordholz airbase in northern Germany and will also operate from NATO bases in the UK, Norway, and Iceland, patrolling the Baltic Sea, North Sea, and northern Atlantic.

Germany is set to spend over €3 billion (approximately $3.47 billion) for the eight P-8As it has on order.

The P-8A Poseidon is used by the US Navy and other NATO members for maritime patrol and surveillance. It is a military version of the Boeing 737 and aims to replace Germany's older P-3 Orion planes.

This aircraft is equipped to detect and hunt submarines with air-dropped sonar buoys. The German version will carry torpedoes, naval mines, and anti-ship missiles.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s ruling coalition has effectively lifted borrowing limits for defense spending, and the conservative leader has committed to turning the Bundeswehr into Europe's largest conventional army to address growing threats from Russia.