US agrees spy plane deployment in Singapore amid China tensions

[Pal]

The United States has agreed with Singapore on a first deployment of the U.S. P8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore this month, in a fresh response to China over its pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea.

A U.S. defense official said further deployments in Singapore could be expected. The move comes at a time of heightened tensions in the South China Sea.

China claims almost the entire energy-rich waters, through which more than US$5 trillion of maritime trade passes each year. The Philippines, Brunei, Vietnam, Malaysia and Taiwan have overlapping claims.

More details at:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sin ... 27826.html

[ecureilx]

The United States has agreed with Singapore on a first deployment of the U.S. P8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore this month, in a fresh response to China over its pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Spy plane ? It's a naval surveillance plane which US has sold to India as well.

Unless they are scaring the neighbours that it's a spy plane.

[nakatago]

The United States has agreed with Singapore on a first deployment of the U.S. P8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore this month, in a fresh response to China over its pursuit of territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Spy plane ? It's a naval surveillance plane which US has sold to India as well.

Unless they are scaring the neighbours that it's a spy plane.

Yeah, definitely not a spy plane. Too big/too slow/too obvious.

The US though allegedly has a sub-orbital unmanned plane that can stay in flight for days.

[Barnsley]

I havent read the article.

Is it flying in/out of Paya Lebar Airbase....

I will keep a lookout for it.

Will make a change from Hercules and Fighter Jets flying overhead.

[ecureilx]

I havent read the article.

Is it flying in/out of Paya Lebar Airbase....

I will keep a lookout for it.

Will make a change from Hercules and Fighter Jets flying overhead.

Most likely it will be out of Changi Air Base, less eyes, or Tengah, as was the E2C and The replacement G550s are based now.

Paya Lebar is due to be decommissioned soon, per one of PMs addresses on land redevelopment.

[TMD]

Paya Lebar is due to be decommissioned soon, per one of PMs addresses on land redevelopment.

The word "soon" is subjective.

According to official stance, they consider the PLAB move as a "long-term plan"...aka > 30 years.

That time frame falls within the Changi airport T5 completion which is next to the expected new replacement airbase.

[TMD]

I havent read the article.
Is it flying in/out of Paya Lebar Airbase....
I will keep a lookout for it.
Will make a change from Hercules and Fighter Jets flying overhead.

P8 has been in PLAB for execise over a year ago. I guess its part of on-going military exchange program. Nothing earth-shattering about this week announcement.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... e-exercise

[Strong Eagle]

^^^^^^^^

Wow! A 737-800... now that's a top secret airplane.

[TMD]

Spy plane ? It's a naval surveillance plane which US has sold to India as well.
Unless they are scaring the neighbours that it's a spy plane.

The term "spy plane" is kind of understating its purpose in the USN.

According to Boeing's sales pitch (and perhaps to make US tax payer happy) - P8 is a turn-key solution for "long-range anti-submarine warfare; anti-surface warfare; and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions all rolled into one twin-engine platform.
http://www.boeing.com/defense/maritime- ... index.page

The only "scary part" is the occasional inclusion of CNN crews on-board as part of propaganda operation to support Obama's "pivot"..

[ecureilx]

According to official stance, they consider the PLAB move as a "long-term plan"...aka > 30 years..

10 years+ is what they told to move some factory to Jurong Island but they did it in less time than that.

15 years is what they did say for Pioneer area shipyards but looks like it will be in half the time, considering how they land leases aren't being renewed upon expiry.

Ship yards are being hinted to "consolidate" in the Tuas south Mega yard.

The government wants land, a lot of it, and urgently, God only knows why ...

[ecureilx]

^^^^^^^^

Wow! A 737-800... now that's a top secret airplane.

It really stands out

[TMD]

The government wants land, a lot of it, and urgently, God only knows why ...

hmm...perhaps unlike the yester-years, SIN is having more difficulty securing more sands for future reclamation projects ? "We have friendly neighbours", remember ?

In a regional context, P8 deployment is just part of the MOU agreement which included USN littoral combat ship, also on rotational basis. Both parties offers something and get what they want in return like a barter trade.

[ecureilx]

The government wants land, a lot of it, and urgently, God only knows why ...

hmm...perhaps unlike the yester-years, SIN is having more difficulty securing more sands for future reclamation projects ? "We have friendly neighbours", remember ?

In a regional context, P8 deployment is just part of the MOU agreement which included USN littoral combat ship, also on rotational basis. Both parties offers something and get what they want in return like a barter trade.

Maybe, Singapore needs to look for alternates for Vietnam Yep, the last bits of shipment apparently were brought in all the way from there !

The P8s have been deployed to Butterworth for sometime, and for some reason, the Malaysians didn't make much fuss out of it

[TMD]

Maybe, Singapore needs to look for alternates for Vietnam Yep, the last bits of shipment apparently were brought in all the way from there !

well, at least they have choices.

A reference to their water strategy, I am wouldn't be surprised all these large-scale re-architecture is driven to meet next 50 years need. All these to counter present and projected future threats against its interests from immediate neighbors. e.g recent renewed attempt to takeover Singapore's FIR control...
There are good reasons for being a kiasu , you might say.

The P8s have been deployed to Butterworth for sometime, and for some reason, the Malaysians didn't make much fuss out of it

That's news to me. There was a lot of speculation over a year ago, but didn't come to fruition as indicated in this article: http://cimsec.org/base-u-s-p-8s-view-malaysia/13047

Often, reality gets sensationalised with headlines like:
Malaysia Risks Enraging China by Inviting U.S. Spy Flights (NYT 2014)
US deploys P-8 Poseidon spy plane in Singapore amid S.China Sea row (Yahoo 2015)
U.S. military wants China to know they are losing patience (CNN May 2015)