SINGAPORE: Singapore has determined to amass 4 Boeing P-8A maritime patrol plane to interchange the present Fokker-50s, which have been in use for over three a long time.
That is a part of the primary part of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) refresh of its maritime security capabilities “to strengthen the SAF’s maritime state of affairs consciousness and talent to counter sub-surface threats”, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) stated on Wednesday (Sep 10) in a information launch.
The Boeing P-8A, an plane designed for maritime patrol, comes geared up with anti-submarine warfare capabilities. Its suite of sensors and radar programs permits it to be deployed in a variety of maritime missions.
It will also be deployed for search and find missions and is fitted with superior avionics, in addition to the fly-by-wire management programs featured within the civil Boeing 737 plane.
The Boeing P-8A is presently operated by 9 nations, together with the United States, the UK and Australia.
Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing met with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth on the Pentagon on Wednesday and knowledgeable him of Singapore’s resolution, stated MINDEF.
Mr Chan additionally famous that manufacturing on the 20 F-35 jets acquired by Singapore has commenced and is on monitor for supply from end-2026.
He additionally thanked Mr Hegseth for the US’ “longstanding assist for the SAF’s coaching within the US”, together with for Exercise Forging Sabre in Idaho, and the longer term RSAF coaching detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas“, MINDEF stated.