The Republic of Singapore has decided to purchase four P-8A Poseidon patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft from the United States, constructed by Boeing.
Singapore’s Minister of Defense, Chan Chun Sing, made the announcement during his visit to the U.S. Secretary of War (formerly Defense) Pete Hegseth in Washington.
The new aircraft will greatly enhance the patrol and ASW capabilities of the Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which today are focused on five Fokker F50 MPA Enforcer Mk 2s in service since 1994 and now reaching the end of their operational life.
Minister Chan Chun Sing confirmed the RSAF’s purchase program of twenty F-35 Lightning II fighter bombers, of which twelve are in the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B version and eight in the conventional F-35A version.
For Boeing, Singapore’s upcoming order is excellent news as it will be able to keep the Poseidon production line open, which is currently busy equipping aircraft for the Marineflieger and, soon, for the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). Production was negatively impacted due to the absence of additional units of P-8I planned for the Indian Air Force because of the tensions between India and the United States following the imposition of North American tariffs on the Asian country.
Photo credit: @US Navy
