Boeing and ST Engineering partner for maintenance of the P-8 Poseidon, at a strategic hotspot

The U.S.-based Boeing Company and ST Engineering of Singapore have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to identify opportunities for collaboration in systems integration, training, local parts distribution, support and maintenance of the P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare aircraft.

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Boeing and ST Engineering have identified opportunities to collaborate in a number of areas and will explore these in more detail, including the joint development of a P-8 aircraft service center in Singapore, with the provision of aircraft maintenance engineers and technicians to support maintenance and engineering services.

The P-8A is a long-range multi-mission aircraft offering unmatched anti-submarine warfare (ASW), anti-surface warfare (ASuW), intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and humanitarian aid and disaster relief capabilities.

The P-8A, a military derivative of the Next-Generation 737-800, combines superior performance and reliability with an advanced mission system that ensures maximum interoperability in the future battle space. With more than 160 aircraft in service, the P-8 has executed more than 600,000 mishap-free flight hours around the globe.

Armed Forces that operate or have selected the P-8 include the U.S. Navy, the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, the Indian Navy, the Royal Norwegian Air Force, the Republic of Korea Navy, the German Navy and the Royal Canadian Air Force.

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It is worth noting that Singapore is located at one of the gateways to the strategic Strait of Malacca, through which much of the maritime traffic that connects the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea passes. Having a maintenance center in this location would allow the P-8A Poseidon of the U.S. Navy (and allies) to maintain a near-permanent watch over this vital maritime trade route.