BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany is to purchase five Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft for about 1.1 billion euros ($1.31 billion), the defence ministry said on Wednesday, confirming a Reuters report from earlier this month.

       Following approval from the parliamentary budget committee, the contract will now be signed, said the ministry as Defence Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer visited her counterpart in the United States.

       "This procurement, with a volume of around 1.1 billion euros, serves the urgent need to maintain a capability for long-range maritime reconnaissance and airborne submarine hunting," said the ministry.

       Reuters had this month reported that the parliamentary budget committee had approved the purchase. [L5N2O43UK]

       The planes will replace Germany's ageing fleet of Lockheed P-3C Orion aircraft.

       ($1 = 0.8426 euros)

       (Writing by Madeline Chambers)