Israeli Navy considering purchase of Boeing P-8 Poseidon aircraft for submarine warfare missions

Israel is examining a potential P-8 Poseidon acquisition as the Navy seeks to expand covert maritime operations and counter growing submarine threats.

The Israeli Navy is seriously considering purchasing Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon aircraft, which is designed, among other capabilities, for submarine warfare, as part of efforts to expand its covert operational reach far beyond Israel’s borders, Walla learned on Friday.

The commander of the Israeli Navy, Maj.-Gen. Eyal Harel, met several weeks ago with a senior Boeing executive to discuss the company’s latest developments and advanced weapons systems.

A Defense Ministry source told Walla that Israel is seriously considering acquiring the P-8 aircraft. According to an initial assessment, the Navy commander intends to incorporate the aircraft procurement requirement into the navy’s strategic plan, which is expected to be presented to the General Staff at the end of the year and will look ahead to the coming decade.

Boeing aircraft designed for advanced maritime missions

Experts consider the Poseidon, known operationally as the P-8, one of the world’s leading reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. Based on the Boeing 737 platform, it serves as a key component in anti-submarine warfare due to its advanced technologies, acoustic sensors, torpedo capabilities, artificial intelligence integration, and other systems.

The aircraft can fly at 850 km/h and, in addition to hunting submarines, can carry advanced missiles against surface ships and land targets. It can remain airborne for extended missions, including through aerial refueling, and is equipped with a powerful radar system for intelligence collection. The aircraft can also conduct search-and-rescue missions and manage a networked battlefield.

The aircraft has been purchased and operated by the United States, India, Australia, the UK, Canada, Norway, New Zealand, South Korea and Germany, due to its reputation as a reliable, flexible and highly operational platform for the modern maritime arena. If the United States approves an Israeli purchase, Israel would be the first country in the Middle East to operate the aircraft.

Israel reviewing future submarine fleet requirements

Against the backdrop of submarine procurement processes and assessments by the National Security Council, the Defense Ministry and the IDF, officials have identified a sharp increase in recent years in the size of naval fleets operating in the Red Sea, the Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea. The increase has been attributed, among other factors, to regional security deterioration involving the Houthis, Iran and other hostile actors.

According to the data, France has 10 submarines, the UK has 11, Italy has eight, Germany has six, Norway has six, Egypt has eight, Turkey has 14 and Greece has nine.

Israel currently has six submarines, with two more in the planning and construction stages. The political leadership and the defense establishment have not yet completed a professional discussion on whether the goal is to expand the submarine fleet to eight vessels, or whether older submarines will be retired once the new ones are delivered, leaving the fleet size at six.