The Bundeswehr's largest fighter aircraft is a "game changer"

On Thursday, 20 November 2025, a new era of naval warfare for the German Navy began with the ceremonial commissioning of the P-8A "Poseidon". The P-3C "Orion" will also be bid farewell as part of the handover ceremony. After years of trepidation and the transfer of operational readiness and expertise, the time has finally come: "The generational change is complete! Naval Air Wing 3 "Graf Zeppelin" is bidding farewell to the tried and tested P-3C Orion submarine chaser after almost 20 years of service for the German Navy. With participation in countless manoeuvres and various missions. The men and women of the P-3C "Orion" made a significant contribution to the fulfilment of the German Navy's mission, particularly in the Horn of Africa, the Mediterranean and the Baltic Sea," said the Commodore of MFG 3, Captain Oliver Ottmüller.

The Orion maritime reconnaissance aircraft has flown numerous missions for the Bundeswehr in just under 28,500 flying hours. This is recognised by the awarding of the flag ribbons with plaques for foreign missions and recognised Bundeswehr missions. Now that the new P-8A maritime patrol aircraft has commenced flight operations, the Naval Air Wing 3 "Graf Zeppelin" will continue to carry out mandated Bundeswehr missions and recognised missions.

With the arrival of the first P-8A "Poseidon" on 7 November 2025, a state-of-the-art weapon system that has already been successfully deployed by NATO partners in the USA, the UK and Norway will now follow. The automated, digitalised and networked system is a leap into the future of German naval aviation for naval warfare from the air with weapons against surface and underwater targets.

The aircraft is 39.5 metres long, has a wingspan of 37.7 metres and a height of 13 metres. With its two turbofan engines, the Poseidon reaches a speed of With a total thrust of 240 kilonewtons, it can reach a speed of 490 knots (936 kilometres per hour). This is enough for more than 7,000 kilometres and a service ceiling of 12,500 metres. We will go into more detail about the sensors (radar, acoustic and optoelectronic systems, sonobuoys, etc.) and armament (torpedoes, depth charges, missiles) at a later date - as far as possible....