German Poseidon aircraft to be based in Scotland to counter Russia

24 October, 2024 A rendering of the German P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft. Image by Boeing Germany will deploy its future P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft in Scotland.

The Associated Press reported that the planes will monitor the movement of Russian submarines in the North Atlantic from Scotland starting in the spring of 2025. Thus, the UK and Germany agreed to strengthen military cooperation. The nations will develop new modern weapons under an agreement signed in London on Wednesday.

At a joint press conference with Boris Pistorius, German Federal Minister of Defense, UK Defense Secretary John Geeley stressed the need to intensify cooperation in a world that has "become dangerous."

Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defense of the Federal Republic of Germany. Photo from open sources

Pistorius believes that NATO allies are determined to increase their defense and deterrence capabilities. "We must not take security in Europe for granted.

Russia is waging a war against Ukraine, significantly increasing its weapons production, and has repeatedly launched hybrid attacks against our partners in Eastern Europe," Pistorius stated. One of the central points of the agreement was that starting in the spring of 2025, German Boeing P-8 Poseidon anti-submarine reconnaissance aircraft would be relocated to an air base in Scotland. In addition, Germany will participate in protecting communication cables at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

And the German arms corporation Rheinmetall will build a new plant to produce large-caliber weapons in the UK. The two countries will prioritize the development of long-range strike weapons with a range that will exceed that of the British Storm Shadow missiles.

Storm Shadow cruise missile. Image from open sources

In October, Boeing started assembling the first three P-8A Poseidon patrol aircraft for Germany.

The entire air fleet will be part of the 3rd Marine Aviation Wing "Graf Zeppelin," which currently operates P-3C Orion patrol aircraft in two squadrons.