Encroachment on Russian border: US approves sale of spy jets to Germany

WASHINGTON: The United States has approved the sale of $1.77 billion worth of Boeing spy jets to Germany as Nato increased activity on Russia’s borders.

The State Department’s office of Political and Military Affairs announced on Saturday the approval of the sale to Germany of five Poseidon P-8A patrol aircraft developed and produced by Boeing Defense, Space and Security, modified from the 737-800.

The aircraft armed with what the US flagship aviation company has described as the world’s “most advanced” weapon systems and other equipment such as sensors and radars, is used for reconnaissance activities.

The sale of the spy aircraft to Germany would “support the foreign policy and national security of the United States,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) wrote to Congress, adding that the sale would also improve the “security of a Nato” member state.

The DSCA further said the sale of the spy aircraft will require four US government officials and four contractors to spend two years in Germany to help with “equipment familiarization, training and supply support.”

Germany’s purchase of the Boeing spy jets comes amid a sharp increase in Nato flights along the Russian border over the past year.

In 2020 alone, the Russian Defence Ministry said thousands of combat aircraft and spy planes approached the country’s airspace, and in many cases had to be escorted away by interceptors.

The US and Nato forces also held US-led war games in eastern Europe near Russian borders, deploying tanks and troops for the drills in the region. Nato member Lithuania announced last year that the American troops stationed in Poland had taken part in military exercises near Russian frontiers.

Lithuania’s army spokesperson claimed the exercises were “defensive in nature and not directed against any neighbor.”

Provocative US-led Nato military activities have particularly increased in frequency since 2014, when the then-Ukrainian territory of Crimea joined Russia following a referendum and when a military conflict erupted in eastern Ukraine.

Earlier in February, the US military reportedly conducted a “mini exercise,” launching a simulated nuke attack on Russia.

The Pentagon claimed in a statement that the low-yield warhead was deployed on the USS Tennessee submarine patrolling in the Atlantic Ocean to deter "potential adversaries, like Russia," and in response to Russian tests of similar weapons.

Russia has repeatedly denounced the US provocative moves, warning Washington that it will respond to US hostility.

The US sale to Germany comes as Boeing, the flagship American company that designs, manufactures, and sells aircraft, has suffered a heavy commercial blow over the past two years due to fatal crashes, production flaws and damage caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Boeing had to ground its 737 Max fleet over a series of deadly crashes and then halt production at its largest facility in Washington due to the deadly spread of the coronavirus.

"The deep impact of the pandemic on commercial air travel, coupled with the 737 MAX grounding, challenged our results," said Chief Executive Dave Calhoun. The past year was one of "profound societal and global disruption which significantly constrained our industry."

The P-8A is being sold by Boeing to its clients as “a multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft, excelling at anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance and search and rescue.”

Boeing claims that the aircraft “combines the most advanced weapon system in the world” with the cost advantage of sharing 86 percent of its parts with the 737.