U.S. Approves Sale of Four Boeing P-8 Poseidons to Singapore

The U.S. government has approved a potential sale for four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), accompanied by eight lightweight torpedoes and adjacent support. The acquisition, valued at about $2.13 billion and approved by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on January 20, would complement the ongoing augmentation of maritime security capabilities for the Southeast Asian nation.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence first announced its intention to acquire the P-8A last September. It has been evaluating the Boeing-built aircraft, as well as the competing Airbus C295MPA turboprop, to replace its aging Fokker 50 MPA Enforcers, which have been in service with 121 Squadron since 1993. Addressing Singapore’s Parliament in March 2025, defense minister Ng Eng Hen said that the RSAF had been “looking intently and evaluating appropriate replacements.”

This acquisition would make Singapore the P-8A’s first operator in Southeast Asia. Other operators in the Indo-Pacific region include Australia, South Korea, and New Zealand. India operates the P-8I Neptune variant, which incorporates domestically developed modifications.

Derived from the Boeing 737NG, the P-8 reconnaissance platform offers notable improvements over its Fokker 50 predecessor, including extended endurance and range, bolstered by its in-flight refueling capability. It also operates at higher altitudes and features an enhanced sensor suite and anti-submarine warfare capability.

The U.S. Department of State describes Singapore as one of its “strongest bilateral partners in Southeast Asia” and one that “plays an indispensable role in securing the region’s security and economic framework.” As such, the DSCA stated that “this proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Asia.”