Two advanced United States surveillance planes are involved in naval military drills conducted with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and are deployed here until next month.

Defence analysts welcomed the move, saying these P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft are technologically advanced and will provide Singapore’s military with valuable experience.

The planes will operate from Paya Lebar Air Base during their third detachment here, which started on July 15 and ends on Aug 12.

During their time here, they will be involved in exercises relating to search-and-rescue, anti-piracy, and humanitarian assistance, said Lieutenant-Commander Arlo Abrahamson, a spokesman for the US Seventh Fleet.

… Training with them will “expose (the SAF) to new technology and help us evaluate our future defence needs”, said Dr Collin Koh, a research fellow and maritime security analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).