South Korea orders P-8As

The US Department of State has cleared sale of six Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft to South Korea. Valuing the proposed deal at $2.1 billion, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency says the package also includes a range of mission systems, support and training. The South Koreans have operated the Lockheed Martin P-3C Orion for 25 years and will have “no difficulty transitioning its [maritime surveillance aircraft] force to the P-8A”.

South Korean presently operates 16 P-3Cs, with the oldest airframe being 32 years old. Other potential types considered by the Koreans were the Airbus Defence & Space’s C295 MPA and the Saab Swordfish system using the Bombardier Global 6000 airframe.