The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) could adopt the Lockheed Martin SC-130J Sea Herc in fulfilment of its long-range maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) requirement, a company official told IHS Jane's on 29 October.
Speaking at the Seoul International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ADEX) in South Korea, Steve Pigott, Director Business Development International Air Mobility Programs, said that Singapore represents the most promising near-term prospect for the MPA-variant Hercules as it looks to augment and later replace its current Fokker 50 MPA fleet.
"Singapore has a real need [for a long-range MPA], and we could provide both a Level 2 [anti-surface warfare] or Level 3 [anti-submarine warfare] capability with the SC-130J," he said.
The RSAF currently operates five Fokker 50s in the MPA role, which are due to remain in service until at least 2020. However, the continued threat of piracy in the region and increased use of submarines has prompted Singapore to expand its MPA and anti-submarine warfare (ASW) capabilities with an improved platform to enter service in the 2015 timeframe.
First unveiled at the Singapore Airshow in 2012, the SC-130J offers a roll-on, roll-off (ro/ro) MPA and ASW capability that utilises a palletised version of the Lockheed P-3 Orion mission suite. As the RSAF already operates 10 C-130 transport aircraft, the SC-130J would enable the service to take advantage of a common operating, training, and support infrastructure.
Singapore has previously requested information on the P-3C MPA from the US Navy with a view to possibly acquiring the aircraft, while the Boeing P-8 Poseidon remains an option also.
(Jane's)
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