| Unit Name: | Naval Aviation Command |
| Native Name: | German: Marinefliegerkommando |
| Country: |  Germany |
| Branch: | German Navy |
| Type: | Naval aviation |
| Size: | 2,500 personnel 57 aircraft |
| Command Structure: | German Navy |
| Garrison: | Nordholz Naval Airbase |
| Website: | http://www.marine.de/portal/a/marine/start/ueberuns/markdo/mfmarkdo/!ut/p/z1/hU5NC4IwGP4tHbzufZuU1W1ClOIhKEp3iVlzGsvJWq6fn9EpKHpuzycPcMiBt6JvlHCNaYUeeMGnx3iW7TI6pzRbLSNM0v0aGY3HSCM4_AvwwcYfYAjbs4Ri2Ih-biRj2AIHfhG9eJDOWKelI-L0eghFLdqzlhtzYm8hBa60Kd_XWVuGMwXcykpaacndDnLtXHdbBBig954oY5SWpGoC_Naozc1B_hGE7pp7DCe6z9joCfvXa1g!/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/#Z7_B8LTL2922LGE70IJVH0A2B10I1 |
| Current Commander: | Kapitän zur See Thorsten Bobzin |
| Current Commander Label: | Kommandeur des Marinefliegerkommandos |
| Identification Symbol Label: | Roundel |
| Identification Symbol 2 Label: | Fin flash |
| Aircraft Attack: | Sea Lynx Mk 88 A P-3C Orion |
| Aircraft Recon: | P-3C Orion Dornier 228 LM |
| Aircraft Patrol: | Sea King Mk 41 Sea Lynx Mk 88 A P-3C Orion |
| Aircraft Trainer: | H135 |
| Aircraft Transport: | Sea King Mk 41 Sea Lynx Mk 88 A |
The Marinefliegerkommando (Naval Aviation Command) is the naval air arm of the German Navy. It is aircraft flown by the Navy of Germany, and mostly consists of helicopters and fixed-wing maritime patrol aircraft, as well as types of drones. Naval helicopters can operate from ships, and some of their roles include utility and supply tasks, search and rescue, and ASW or naval warfare. The fixed-wing aircraft operate from land bases but will patrol over open water. The Navy also operates training aircraft and unmanned drones. Naval aviation is subordinate to the German Navy, separate from the German Air Force.
During the First World War, naval aviators were part of the German: [[Kaiserliche Marine]]. After the war Germany was no longer allowed to maintain a military aviation capability. Heer and Marine both attempted to nevertheless maintain theoretical and practical knowledge of air warfare through concealed activities such as pilot training efforts.[1] After the National Socialists had risen to power, these activities intensified until Nazi Germany unilaterally declared its withdrawal from armament limitations in 1935. The nascent rump naval air arm was quickly absorbed by Hermann Göring's newly established German: [[Luftwaffe]].
However, as a component of the air force, the Seeflieger maintained their organisational structure.[2] A carrier-based aviation component was planned for the aircraft carrier Graf Zeppelin, laid down in 1936, but lack of suitable aircraft, coupled with the reluctance of the Luftwaffe to support the Kriegsmarine in the carrier's construction, culminated in its eventual cancellation in 1943.
After the Second World War, it was not until West Germany's entry into NATO in the 1950s and the establishment of the Bundesmarine, that a naval aviation force (Marineflieger) was formed.
The United Kingdom was instrumental in the creation of the Marineflieger, supplying training and aircraft. A number of Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm (FAA) officers operated as part of the German Navy in the process. The first aircraft included Hawker Sea Hawks, which were used by Marinefliegergeschwader 1 and 2, and Fairey Gannets. Until the new bases were ready, pilots were trained with the FAA in the UK.
The first Kommando der Marineflieger was created in July 1956 in Kiel-Holtenau and elevated to divisional level in 1964, renamed to Marinefliegerkommando in 1967 and to Marinefliegerdivision in 1969 as it grew in size. This Naval Aviation Division commanded five wings and several supporting units in total before 1990, including two combat aircraft wings equipped with Lockheed Starfighter fighter aircraft and then the Panavia Tornado. The Fairey Gannet maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) was replaced with the Bréguet Atlantic.
After the Cold War, the unit was renamed to Flotille der Marineflieger in 1994 and reduced to a brigade-level command. Its last combat aircraft were handed over to the German Air Force in 2005 before the flotilla was dissolved on 30 June 2006. Afterwards, the remaining wings were directly assigned to fleet command until 8 October 2012, when the current Marinefliegerkommando was created in Nordholz under Kapitän zur See Andreas Horstmann, who had already been charged with naval aviation at fleet command in Rostock from 2006 to 2009.[3] At the same time the remaining naval aviation aircraft were largely consolidated at Nordholz Naval Airbase.
Apart from the staff, two - the 3rd and 5th - wings are currently assigned to the unit.
The German Navy's fixed-wing aircraft, namely eight Lockheed P-3C Orion MPA taken over from the Dutch Navy and two modified Dornier 228LM pollution control aircraft are assigned to the 3rd wing, Marinefliegergeschwader 3 "Graf Zeppelin". The unit is also responsible for handling flight operations in Nordholz. It was established in 1964.
The wings tasks include surveillance and control of large sea areas as well as maritime warfare against targets above (ASuW) and below water (ASW).[4] Pollution control patrols are carried out implementing the MARPOL 73/78 convention on behalf of and in cooperation with German civilian authorities, namely the German coastal states and agencies under the Federal Ministry of Transport, who do not maintain the appropriate aircraft themselves.
The P-3Cs are to be replaced with five P-8 Poseidon MPAs from 2024 on[5] in order to avoid a looming capability gap caused by bringing forward the out-of-service date of the P-3Cs to 2025. A prior attempt to extensively refurbish the aircraft and extend their service time to 2035 was abandoned due to cost and technical issues.[6]
A technical support group (Gruppe) and a flying group, each with two flights (Staffeln) make up the unit along with an airbase group which is responsible for logistics, command infrastructure and air traffic:[7]
Marinefliegergeschwader 5 commands the navies rotorcraft fleet of Westland Sea Lynx MK 88 A and Sea King Mk 41 helicopters, tasked with ship-based anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, transport and special forces support duties and is responsible for search and rescue (SAR) duty in the North and Baltic seas. The Sea King fleet is currently transitioning to the NH90 Sea Lion. Sea Lion operations began during June 2020 and the wing will eventually have 20 in service.[8] The NH90 in its Sea Tiger version will also replace the Sea Lynx from 2025 on as the navies frigate-based helicopter.[9]
The unit redeployed in 2012-2013 to Nordholz from Kiel-Holtenau where it had been stationed since its creation in 1958.
The command had 2,500 personnel on active duty in 2020.[10] As of 2019, it operates 54 aircraft.[11]
| Model | Image | Origin | Role | Ordered | Introduced | Operational | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotorcraft | ||||||||
| Westland Sea Lynx Mk 88 A | Anti-submarine warfare, Anti-surface warfare, | 26 | 1981 | 24[12] | To be replaced by the NH90 NFH Sea Tiger from 2025 to 2030. Equipment:[13]
| |||
| NH90 NTH"Sea Lion" | Germany
| Multi-role helicopter(Utility helicopter,
Vertical replenishment) | 18 | 2018 | 18 | [14] [15] | ||
| Westland Sea King Mk.41 | Transport,SAR missions | 23 | 1973 | 0 | As of 2024 all SeaKings are retired, 6 will be transferred to Ukraine | |||
| Airplane | ||||||||
| Boeing P-8 Poseidon |  United States | 8 | 2025 | 0 | Replacing P-3 Orion from 2025 onwards | |||
| Lockheed P-3 Orion "P-3C CUP+" | United States | 8 | 2006 | 2[16] | 8 P-3 Orion purchased to the Netherlands replacing Bréguet 1150 Atlantic.[17] Will be replaced by Boeing P-8 Poseidon 6 P-3 Orion sold to Portugal, final 2 to be delivered in 2025.[18] | |||
| Dornier 228 LM | Germany | Pollution control | 2 | 1991 | 2[19] | [20] | ||
| UAV | ||||||||
| DJI Phantom IV | ISRIntelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance | 5 | 2017 | 5 | Commercial UAV Multicopter[21] | |||
| Aerovironment RQ-20B Puma AE II"LARUS" | United States | ISRIntelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance | 6 | 2019 | 6 | 3 systems with 2 drones each ordered in 2018 [22] | ||
| Saab Skeldar V-200 "Sea Falcon" |  Sweden | ISRIntelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance | 2 | 2020 | 2 | Ordered in 2017 as part of an urgent research programme VorMUAS to equip the K130 Braunschweig class[23] 8 additional Sea Falcon are eventually planned. | ||
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Role | Ordered | Introduction | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NH90 NFH"Sea Tiger" | Germany
| Rotorcraft | Multi-role helicopter (Anti-submarine warfare, anti-surface warfare, reconnaissance and transport) | 18 | 2025 | Ordered in 2020, to be delivered from 2025 to 2030. Qualifications trials started in 2023.[24] [25] The equipment for the helicopter is:
The armament will be:
| ||
| Boeing P-8A Poseidon | United States | Fixed wing aircraft | Maritime patrol aircraft | 8 | 2025 | Selected to replace the P-3C Orion in 2021:[26]
Delivery of first in 2024, 8 to be introduced in service in 2025 |
The Marineflieger previously operated the following aircraft:
https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=75345
Italy
Netherlands