The U.S. State Department has approved possible military sales worth $2.6 billion to South Korea, including six P-8A Poseidon maritime reconnaissance aircraft.
The Boeing-made Poseidon aircraft, which are used for hunting submarines and conducting maritime reconnaissance, is worth up to $2.1 billion, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said.
The DSCA noted that the Republic of Korea (ROK) has requested to buy 6 P-8A Patrol Aircraft, which includes: 9 Multifunctional 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); 14 LN-251 with Embedded Global Positioning Systems (GPS)/Inertial Navigations Systems (EGIs); and 42 AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors.
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 P-8 is an aircraft designed for long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions. It is capable of broad-area maritime and littoral operations. It is also effective at humanitarian and search and rescue missions.
