The U.S. State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of six P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for an estimated cost of $2.10 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Sept. 13.

In February this year, South Korea said that it would procure from new maritime patrol aircraft with stronger anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities in order to better respond to the threat of North Korea’s submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM).

The country finally picked Boeing’s P-8 for the role against Swordfish and C295 MPA models offered by Sweden’s Saab and Europe’s Airbus respectively.

After the selection, South Korea requested for the sale of six P-8A patrol aircraft and associated equipment and support through the U.S. government foreign military sales program.

In addition to the aircraft, the request included: nine Multi-functional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems 5 (MIDS JTRS 5) (one for each aircraft, one for the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) and two as spares); fourteen LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGIs) (two for each aircraft and two as spares); and forty-two AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors (six for each aircraft and six as spares).

Also included are commercial engines; Tactical Open Mission Software (TOMS); Electro-Optical (EO) and Infrared (IO) MX-20HD; AN/AAQ-2(V)1 Acoustic System; AN/APY-10 Radar; ALQ-240 Electronic Support Measures; AN/ALE-47 Counter Measures Dispensing System; support equipment; operation support systems; maintenance trainer/classrooms; publications; software, engineering, and logistics technical assistance; foreign liaison officer support; contractor engineering technical services; repair and return; transportation; aircraft ferry; and other associated training, logistics, support equipment and services. The total estimated program cost is $2.1 billion.

The DSCA said in a statement that South Korea is one of the closest allies in the INDOPACOM Theater and that the proposed sale will support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by enhancing Korea’s naval capabilities to provide national defense and significantly contribute to coalition operations.

The ROK procured and has operated U.S.-produced P-3 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (MSA) for over 25 years, providing interoperability and critical capabilities to coalition maritime operations. The ROK has maintained a close MSA acquisition and sustainment relationship with the U.S. Navy over that period.

The proposed sale of P-8 will allow the ROK to modernize and sustain its MSA capability for the next 30 years. As a long-time P-3 operator, the ROK will have no difficulty transitioning its MSA force to P-8A.

The prime contractor of the sale will be The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA. Additional contractors include: ASEC; Air Cruisers Co LLC; Arnprior Aerospace, Canada; AVOX Zodiac Aerospace; BAE; Canadian Commercial Corporation (CCC)/EMS; Compass; David Clark; DLS or ViaSat, Carlsbad, CA; DRS; Exelis, McLean, VA; GC Micro, Petaluma, CA; General Dynamics; General Electric, UK; Harris; Joint Electronics; Lockheed Martin; Martin Baker; Northrop Grumman Corp, Falls Church, VA; Pole Zero, Cincinnati, OH; Raytheon, Waltham, MA; Raytheon, UK; Rockwell Collins, Cedar Rapids, IA; Spirit Aero, Wichita, KS; Symmetries Telephonics, Farmingdale, NY; Terma, Arlington, VA; Viking; and WESCAM.

Boeing P-8 Poseidon is a maritime patrol aircraft aircraft developed for the U.S. Navy (USN) by Boeing Defense, Space & Security based on its 737-800ERX design.

The P-8 is able to perform anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), and shipping interdiction, along with an early warning self-protection (EWSP) ability, otherwise known as electronic support measures (ESM). This involves carrying torpedoes, depth charges, Harpoon anti-ship missiles, and other weapons. It is able to drop and monitor sonobuoys.

The P-8 is operated by the U.S. Navy, the Indian Navy (as the P-8I), and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The aircraft has been also ordered by the UK’s Royal Air Force (RAF), Royal Norwegian Air Force (RNoAF), and the Royal New Zealand Air Force (RNZAF).





