Singapore’s defense minister has announced plans to acquire three Gulfstream G550 maritime surveillance aircraft for the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
During the Committee of Supply debate on February 27, Singaporean Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing told lawmakers that the planned purchase would complement the four P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft currently planned for purchase. “This supports the SAF’s mission in safeguarding Singapore’s Sea Lines of Communication as part of Singapore’s maritime security surveillance network.”
A fact sheet released by Singapore’s Ministry of Defence following the announcement says the Gulfstreams will be equipped with maritime surveillance radars, electro-optical/infra-red sensors, integrated communications systems, maritime automatic identification systems and a self-protection suite for the maritime surveillance mission. The aircraft will be crewed by two pilots and up to six mission crew, with mission endurance of up to nine hours.
No details on the projected delivery time or cost of acquiring the aircraft have been disclosed as of writing.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force currently operates four G550s modified for the airborne early warning mission, with the fleet declared fully operational in 2012.
The Gulfstreams and Poseidons will replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s current fleet of Fokker 90 maritime patrol aircraft, which entered service in 1993. Singapore announced that it was evaluating replacements for the Fokkers in March 2025, with Defence Minister Chan announcing that four P-8A Poseidons would be purchased in September that year during a visit to the United States. The United States’ State Department announced its approval of the Poseidon sale in February, estimating the value of the package of four Poseidons, their mission systems, and eight Mk 54 torpedoes at $2.316 billion.
Chan added that the second Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel for the Republic of Singapore Navy was on track for launch in the third quarter of 2026. The keel of the second Multi-Role Combat Vessel was laid on 27 January 2026. Eight Multi-Role Combat Vessels will be built for the Republic of Singapore Navy, with Chan saying their role as “motherships” for autonomous and uncrewed systems was an example of how the Singaporean Armed Forces was pairing unmanned platforms with manned platforms.
Chan told lawmakers that he expected Singapore’s growth in defense spending to keep pace with GDP, barring major shocks. “However, we are prepared to spend more if the need arises”, added Chan, echoing Prime Minister Lawrence Wong’s remarks when he projected Singapore’s 2026 defense budget to be around 3% of GDP during the 2026 budget presentation on February 12.
