Aviation co-operation at core of Germany-UK defence pact

An artist's impression of a German Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft. The periodic basing of these German aircraft in the UK is part of a bilateral defence pact between the two countries that is heavily weighted towards combat aviation. (Boeing)

Mutual co-operation across the air domain sits at the core of the new bilateral defence pact agreed between Germany and the UK on 23 October.

Signed by German Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey during a meeting in London, nearly half of the 10 joint enterprises approved in the Trinity House Agreement cover co-operation in the field of combat aviation.

“The signing of the Trinity House Agreement marks a fundamental shift in the UK's relations with Germany and for European security. This agreement between Europe's two biggest defence spenders will strengthen national security and economic growth in the face of growing Russian aggression and increasing threats,” the UK government said in its announcement of the deal.

Joint co-operation

For combat aviation, the pact comprises the basing of German Navy Boeing P-8A Poseidon multimission maritime aircraft (MMA) in the UK, work to develop new unmanned ‘loyal wingmen', exploration and development of new maritime unmanned aircraft system (UAS) capabilities, as well as arming Sea King helicopters donated by both countries to Ukraine.

Poseidon basing