The South Korean Navy has officially begun operating its newly acquired P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, designed to strengthen surveillance and response capabilities against underwater threats, particularly from North Korea, according to Yonhap News Agency.
The fleet of six P-8A aircraft, manufactured by Boeing, arrived in South Korea in 2024. Since then, the Navy has conducted training programs for pilots and maintenance crews, alongside a series of flight exercises to prepare the aircraft for active duty.
The P-8A aircraft will replace the Navy’s aging P-3 patrol planes and are expected to enhance anti-submarine warfare, surface ship detection, and maritime patrol operations. The platform features an upgraded maximum speed of 907 kilometers per hour—significantly higher than the P-3’s 749 kph—and is equipped with anti-ship missiles, torpedoes, and approximately 120 sonobuoys capable of tracking enemy submarines.
The deployment follows the May crash of a P-3 aircraft, which resulted in the deaths of all four crew members. An official investigation into the incident is ongoing.