Singapore to acquire 3 Gulfstream G550 maritime surveillance aircraft for RSAF

Singapore is bolstering its maritime defence posture with the acquisition of three Gulfstream G550 marine surveillance aircraft (MSA).

Announced on 27 February, Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing confirmed that the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) would acquire three of the modified jets to enhance early warning capabilities.

“This supports the SAF’s mission in safeguarding Singapore’s sea lines of communication as part of Singapore’s maritime security surveillance network,” he added.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the purchase in a statement, adding that, “The G550-MSA will complement the Boeing P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft as part of Singapore’s maritime security surveillance network to better protect Singapore and our Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) from maritime security threats.”

What is the Gulfstream G550 MSA?

The Gulfstream G550 is a long-range business jet, but like many executive platforms, it can be modified to take on more complex roles.

The RSAF already operates four Gulfstream G550-based airborne early warning aircraft. These are highly modified with Israel Aerospace Industries’ EL/W-2085 conformal radar for airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) duties, and are flown by 111 Squadron.

These G550 AEW aircraft replaced RSAF’s older E-2C Hawkeye fleet and provide long-range airborne surveillance and radar coverage, helping detect and track aerial threats beyond Singapore’s immediate airspace.

However, the three Gulfstream G550 MSA are separate from the existing AEW fleet. The MSA variant is tailored specifically for maritime domain awareness and early warning over sea lines of communication, a role distinct from airborne early warning against aerial threats.

Each aircraft will feature:

• Advanced maritime surface-search radar

• Electro-optical and infrared sensors

• Signals intelligence capability

• Long endurance and high-altitude persistence

The G550 offers significant advantages over legacy maritime surveillance aircraft, particularly in speed, altitude and endurance. Cruising at around Mach 0.82 and operating at altitudes of up to 40,000ft for as long as nine hours, the G550 MSA provides the Republic of Singapore Air Force with faster response times, longer on-station persistence and the ability to operate above adverse weather.

The G550 MSA will complement, not replace, the P-8 Poseidon

Singapore operates the Boeing P-8A Poseidon as its primary maritime patrol and anti-submarine warfare platform. Derived from the Boeing 737, the P-8A is a heavily militarised aircraft designed not only to detect threats, but to prosecute them.

The Poseidon brings capabilities such as:

• Anti-submarine warfare with sonobuoys and torpedoes

• Anti-ship strike capability

• Long-range maritime patrol

• Persistent surface and subsurface tracking

By contrast, the G550 MSA is expected to function primarily as a high-altitude sensor and early warning node. Rather than carrying weapons, it will focus on wide-area detection, tracking and intelligence collection.

In practical terms, the division of labour is clear. The G550 MSA can survey large swathes of ocean at high altitude, detect anomalies or suspicious activity, and cue other assets. The P-8A can then be directed to investigate more closely or, if required, engage.

This layered approach enhances Singapore’s maritime domain awareness while preserving the Poseidon’s capacity for higher-end missions.