South Korea Approves Acquisition Of 20 Patrol Aircrafts

South Korea has approved plans to buy 20 maritime patrol aircraft to improve the Navy’s surveillance capabilities of North Korea.

The approval allows the addition of 20 maritime patrol aircraft to supplement the aging squadron of 16 Lockheed Martin P-3C Orions and the budget is estimated at $889 million.

“The Defense Acquisition Program Administration is currently working on a plan, which is likely to be an overseas purchase program,” South Korean spokesperson said.

Among the potential candidates are Airbus Military’s C-295 MPA, Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon, Lockheed Martin’s SC-130J Sea Hercules, according to the South Korean officials.

The U.S. Navy has recently received the seventh production of Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon to replace its P-3Cs.

Separately, a naval modernization program has been underway to upgrade P-3C’s radar and censor system by 2016.

Deployed in 1995, the maritime aircraft is capable of conducting various operations in anti-submarine and anti-ship warfare. It is armed with Harpoon Block II air-to-ground missiles and a tactical information system interoperable with the KF-16 fighter jet.

The latest decision comes as Seoul has been putting more resources into coastal warfare and defense capabilities in frontline border islands in the face of North Korea’s growing threat near the tensely guarded western sea.