INDUSTRY NEWS

Singapore Acquires 3 Gulfstream G550 Maritime Surveillance Aircraft

Share on

SINGAPORE will acquire three Gulfstream G550-Maritime Surveillance Aircraft for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), its defence ministry confirmed in a statement. The Gulfstream G550-MSA is an aircraft designed for maritime surveillance, to enhance maritime awareness and to provide early warning of maritime threats.

A ministry statement read, defence minister Chan Chun Sing said that robust conventional capabilities remain core to a strong and credible deterrence. “We must continue to modernise and upgrade them to keep pace with the threats around us”.

The G550-MSA is equipped with radar systems, electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) cameras, communication and identification systems, which allowS the G550-MSA to simultaneously detect, identify and track a range of potential maritime threats.

According to a ministry fact sheet, the G550 MSA has a service ceiling of 40,000 feet and an endurance of 9 hours with Maritime Surveillance Radar, EO/IR Sensor, Integrated Communications Systems, Maritime Automatic Identification System, Self-Protection Suite. The aircraft is piloted by 2 pilots and as many as 6 mission crewmembers.

Furthermore, the G550-MSA will complement the four units of Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) as part of Singapore’s maritime security surveillance network to better protect Singapore and our Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) from maritime security threats. 

Singapore decided last September to procure a total of four P-8As to supplant  its existing fleet of Fokker-50 MPAs which have flown for more than 30 years. This acquisition is the first phase refresh of the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF) maritime security capabilities.

The country also received received approval from the US State Department in late January on a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of Boeing P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft and Mk54 Lightweight Torpedoes and related equipment for an estimated cost of US$2.316 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress.

Aside from that, Singapore already operates four units of Gulfstream G550 Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft that undertake airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) capabilities for the RSAF.