With procurement opportunities for maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) ongoing in the region companies present at the Singapore Airshow jockeyed to shine the spotlight on their own programmes and capabilities.
Airborne maritime surveillance and patrol looks like being a vital asset for countries in the Asia-Pacific region seeking to monitor busy commercial waterways and maintain sovereign interests in the EEZs. With China increasingly strident in its assertion of sea lane control, the need is transforming to a demand.
In particular, the ageing P-3 Orion MPA and other various replacement programmes were both identified as potential market opportunities by Boeing and Saab,