Overview
- Officials said the U.K. and Germany will dispatch P-8A Poseidons in the coming months for joint submarine-tracking missions, with German aircraft operating from RAF Lossiemouth under the Trinity House Agreement.
- Germany received its first P-8 on Oct. 1 and has eight on order, and German crews have already flown two U.K.-led Baltic Sentry sorties focused on safeguarding underwater infrastructure.
- German Poseidon crews are training with the U.S. Navy at NAS Jacksonville, with the final cohort expected to complete the program by mid-2026.
- Berlin will arm the aircraft with British Sting Ray Mod 2 lightweight torpedoes, as both governments reaffirmed a joint purchase plan.
- Germany is expanding High North access and coordination, seeking use of Icelandic port facilities and Keflavik air base under a new cooperation pact and pursuing a North Atlantic partnership with Canada, Norway and Denmark.