US green lights $2.3bn sale of Boeing P-8A Poseidons & torpedoes to Singapore
January 22, 2026
The US State Department has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of up to four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), Mk 54 Mod 0 Lightweight Torpedoes and related equipment and support services to Singapore for an estimated cost of $2.31bn.
Approval of this prospective FMS was announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) after it had notified the US Congress about the possible export sale on January 20. As part of the deal, Singapore has requested to buy a force of up-to four P-8As after the type was selected as the desired successor for its ageing fleet of Dutch-made Fokker 50 MPAs in September 2025.
The deal also includes the procurement of eight Mk 54 Mod 0 Lightweight Torpedoes, which will reportedly be acquired from current US Navy stocks. In addition, the deal will also include the provision of various systems, sensors and hardware/software, including:
- Seven Guardian laser transmitter assemblies, seven system processors with selective availability anti-spoofing modules and an unspecified quantity of missile warning sensors for the Northrop Grumman-built AN/AAQ-24(V)N Directional Infrared Countermeasures (DIRCM) system;
- An unspecified number of L3Harris-made WESCAM MX-20HD electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) imaging systems;
- An unspecified number of AN/AQQ-2(V) acoustic systems;
- An unspecified number of RTX Corporation-built AN/APY-10 multifunction radar systems;
- An unspecified number of Terma-developed ALQ-213 early warning management systems;
- An unspecified number of BAE Systems’ AN/APX-123A Identification Friend-or-Foe (IFF) transmitters, and;
- An unspecified number of BAE Systems-made AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser systems.
The proposed sale also covers the provision of spare CFM56-7B27A turbofan engines, training devices and services, classified and unclassified publications and software, mission systems and long-term technical, logistics and infrastructure support. Boeing will be the principal contractor for the delivery of the P-8As as part of this contract.
Commenting on the possible sale, the DSCA said: “The proposed sale will improve Singapore’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing a credible maritime force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in US allied operations. The proposed sale will support Singapore’s goal of improving national and territorial defence as well as increasing interoperability with US and allied forces.”
Singapore’s journey to selecting the Boeing P-8A Poseidon
Singapore has long been in the MPA market for a replacement for its ageing fleet of Fokker 50s, which entered operational service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in the early 1990s. No more than five Fokker 50s are thought to still be operational with the RSAF’s No 121 Squadron at Changi Air Base.
While the government of Singapore outlined its desire to acquire four P-8As in September 2025, the country also considered Airbus Defence & Space’s turboprop-driven C295MPA as a potential successor for its ageing Fokker 50s. Singapore’s decision to obtain a fleet of P-8As means that the nation will become the first operator of the type in Southeast Asia. The type is also employed by four key allies across the Indo-Pacific, including Australia, New Zealand and South Korea. India also operates a variant of the type, known as the P-8I Neptune, which has been outfitted with domestically developed equipment.
In discussing the global Poseidon fleet, Singapore looks set to become the tenth operator of the P-8A. In addition to Australia, India, New Zealand and South Korea, the type is also operated by Germany, Norway, the UK and the US.
Germany received its first P-8A from Boeing in October 2025. Meanwhile, Canada has ordered 14 P-8As (with options for two more aircraft), with deliveries expected to begin later this year. As Singapore’s P-8A acquisition has yet to be firmed up, no delivery timeline has been outlined for the type.
This move comes as part of Singapore’s broader plans to modernise the maritime capabilities of the Republic of Singapore Navy (ROSN). With this in mind, Singapore’s future P-8A fleet will work closely with the ROSN’s new fleet of Formidable-class multi-role stealth frigates, which were introduced into operational service in the mid-2000s, as well as the nation’s planned acquisition of large Multi-Role Combat Vessels, which are expected to employ unmanned air/surface vehicles (UAV/USVs).
Featured image: US Navy/Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Jacquelin Frost
