The Royal Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is making a generational leap in maritime patrol capability. The island nation will be replacing its legacy turboprop Fokker 50 Enforcer II with all-new Boeing P-8A Poseidon twinjets. The US Department of Defense authorized the RSAF to buy four of the advanced patrol jets that are based on 737 Next Generation airframes.

These aircraft represent a dramatic increase in capability, performance, and even fleet longevity, plus a host of new weapons employment options. The aircraft is armed with the latest intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR) technology developed for the US Navy, and alongside the RSAF, key US allies have also assembled their own P-8 fleets.

Modernizing Singapore’s Maritime Security

The new P-8’s will serve the RSAF’s mission of wide area surveillance along the coastline and open ocean as well as providing support for search and rescue operations and aeromedical evacuations. The Singaporean Air Force’s Squadron 121 has flown the Enforcer II since 1993 from Changi Airbase. The aircraft is a modified version of the discontinued regional airliner made in the Netherlands by Fokker, also known as the Fokker 50MPA (Maritime Patrol Aircraft).

The deal for the four planes is valued at $2.3 billion including aircraft, weapons, and related equipment as well as training and services. The P-8A will exponentially increase Squadron 121’s reach versus the range of the Enforcer II, jumping from 1,000 miles (1,700 kilometers) to 4,660 miles (7,500 kilometers), plus the P-8A introduces aerial refueling, which was not possible on the Fokker. The Poseidon is nearly twice as fast and almost doubles the service ceiling of the Enforcer II as well.

The official statement by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency reads:

“The proposed sale will support Singapore’s goal of improving national and territorial defense as well as increasing interoperability with US and allied forces. Singapore will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”

Poseidon’s Eye In The Sky

The Fokker was equipped with a Raytheon AN/APS-134 Search Radar and Forward-Looking Infrared (FLIR) as well as Electronic Support Measures (ESM) systems, but the P-8A takes that to a new level with far more powerful radar, FLIR, and other optical sensors (cameras) as well as a much more modern and comprehensive electronic warfare (EW) suite.

The sensors aboard the P-8A offer three decades of technological enhancement in addition to a raw power boost thanks to the larger and more airframe of the Poseidon with it turbofan powerplants and greater electrical power supply. These aircraft, operated by 121 Squadron, are designed to work in conjunction with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) for maritime surveillance and over-the-horizon targeting.

The Raytheon AN/APY-10 multi-mission surface search radar is the primary system used for ISR and targeting. The ALQ-213 early warning management systems and AN/AAQ-24(V)N anti-spoofing modules will be complemented by missile warning sensors and Guardian laser transmitters. The aircraft will also have the AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser for self-defense.

The Business End Of The Trident

According to the DOD, the RSAF will purchase Mark 54 torpedoes from the US Navy at the time it takes delivery of its new Posiedons in addition to receiving weapons, avionics, and sensor training from the US. The Fokker had some ordnance carrying capacity, including the AGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile and some lightweight torpedoes, but the P-8A massively increases the arsenal depth that Squadron 121 can employ.

The Poseidon has both an internal weapons bay and 11 external hardpoints to deploy: AGM-84 Harpoon missiles, AGM-84 SLAM-ER missiles, AGM-158 LRASM missiles, Mark 54 torpedo, naval mines, depth charges, and the High Altitude Anti-Submarine Warfare Weapon Capability (HAAWC) system.