BERLIN (Reuters) - The German parliament's budget committee on Wednesday approved the 1.4 billion euro purchase of five Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft, a parliamentary source said.

       The planes are designed for submarine hunting and conducting long-distance maritime reconnaissance. They will replace Germany's ageing fleet of Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft.

       (Reporting by Sabine Siebold; Editing by Hans Seidenstuecker and Madeline Chambers)