Singapore’s Ministry of Defence plans to replace its fleet of Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft with Boeing-made P-8A reconnaissance planes.
Published On 21 Jan 202621 Jan 2026
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The United States has approved a $2.3bn weapons sale to Singapore that includes P-8A Poseidon reconnaissance aircraft, lightweight torpedoes, and air defence systems.
The State Department notified the US Congress of the sale on Wednesday, according to a statement on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) website.
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The proposed sale will allow Singapore to “meet current and future threats by providing a credible maritime force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in US allied operations”, the DSCA said.
“This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a strategic partner that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Asia,” the statement continued.
Ian Chong, a political scientist, told Al Jazeera that the patrol aircraft are used to protect Singapore’s “extended sea lanes of communication and its very busy waterways” in Southeast Asia.
The acquisition of four Boeing P-8A aircraft is part of Singapore’s long-term plan to replace its ageing fleet of Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, according to its Ministry of Defence.
Singapore Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing announced plans to buy the US aircraft in September, following a meeting with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon.
The US has $8.38bn in active government-to-government sales with Singapore, which range from munitions to F-35 fighter jets, according to the State Department.
Singapore is due to receive the first aircraft from its outstanding order of 20 F-35s later this year, according to its Defence Ministry.
The US and Singapore cooperate on a range of security issues, and their militaries regularly host joint training exercises.
A P-8A Poseidon performs in the air during the Australian International Airshow in Avalon, Australia, in March 2025 [File: Hollie Adams/Reuters]
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Open-source tracking data and spotters on the ground are showing a sudden surge of U.S. aircraft to Europe. The deployments include C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets, possibly packed with helicopters, emanating from the home of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), AC-130J Ghostrider gunships, and a shadowy special operations turboprop aircraft. While U.S. aircraft routinely transit to and through that continent, the number of flights and their origin have raised speculation of potential future special operations missions in the region, and that speculation could be well founded.
The deployments of these aircraft increasingly seem like they are in support of a future operation to board the Russian-flagged Crude Oil Tanker Marinera, which until recently has been known as the Bella-1, and has been pursued by the Coast Guard since last month. CBS News on Monday afternoon reported that the U.S. will likely try to intercept the vessel, now in the North Atlantic. We’ll discuss that more later, including why the 160th SOAR may be needed for such an operation, in this story.
Here is what we have seen over the past 36 hours. Online flight tracking data shows that there were at least 10 Globemaster flights that left the U.S. for Europe on Jan. 3. At least four of these flights were from Fort Campbell in Kentucky, fueling unconfirmed speculation of an influx of U.S. special operations aviation assets. Fort Campbell is home to the 160th SOAR, also known as the Night Stalkers, the elite aviation unit that played a key role in locating and capturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife. You can read more about that in our story about Operation Absolute Resolve here.
There are claims that several of the Night Stalkers’ highly modified MH-47 Chinooks and MH-60M Black Hawks, presumably dropped off by the C-17s, were seen at RAF Fairford; however, no visual evidence has emerged to confirm that.
“As I think we have offered many times previously, we do not comment on the operational activity of other nations, including use of UK bases,” a U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD) official told us. “Likewise, neither the MOD or RAF would offer comment on speculation on what [U.S. bases in England] assets are or indeed are not doing.”
The 160th did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Beyond the possibility of the helicopters being delivered, at least two AC-130J Ghostrider gunships landed Sunday at RAF Mildenhall, where they still remain, according to Andrew McKelvey, a local spotter who was kind enough to share his photos of the aircraft with us. U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, which operates those aircraft, declined to comment.
One of the U.S. Air Force’s shadowy CASA CN-235 intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance planes was also deployed to RAF Fairford.
U.S. European Command, which oversees American military operations in that region, declined to offer any specifics about the nature of these flights.
“U.S. European Command routinely hosts transient U.S. military aircraft (and personnel) in accordance with access, basing, and overflight agreements with Allies and partners,” the command told us in an early Monday morning email. “Taking into account operational security for U.S. assets and personnel, further details are not releasable at this time.”
While the nature of these flights remains unclear, there was a similar surge from Fort Campbell in the days leading up to Operation Absolute Resolve.
The 160th SOAR works across the globe on a daily basis, deploying for operational tasking to execute a huge array of mission sets. These include training and large-force exercises and combat operations. Night Stalker crews get experience all over the world in many environments. Movements of this kind are not that unusual, but after the Venezuelan mission, they certainly are drawing more attention.
A stock picture of an MH-47 Chinook belonging to the US Army’s 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment operating from an amphibious assault ship. USN/Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Christopher Jones
The Marinera is another connection to Venezuela. The vessel is laden with Venezuelan oil and part of a so-called shadow fleet transporting oil for Russia, Iran and Venezuela in violation of sanctions imposed by the United States and other countries. The Trump administration said this weekend they would continue to interdict these vessels. The Coast Guard attempted to board the ship on Dec. 20, but the crew refused to allow it. As we saw last month, personnel fast-roping from helicopters played a key role in the seizure of the M/V Skipper, another sanctioned oil tanker. Night Stalker assets could very well assist in any attempt to capture the Marinera, which could be considered a more dangerous operation due to the intelligence gathered and interactions with its crew.
You can see video of the boarding of the Skipper below.
Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple… pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x
Highlighting the potential danger of this kind of operation, CBS News reported that “Venezuelan officials had discussed placing armed military personnel on tankers — disguising them as civilians for defense purposes — as well as portable Soviet-era air defense systems.” The discussions took place before the capture of Maduro and his wife, the network added.
Night Stalkers are far better prepared for taking down a defended ship like this, including with their defensive systems and the ability to provide their own air support. The AC-130J is also capable of making pinpoint gun strikes on vessels for exactly this kind of operation as we have showcased in our previous reporting.
27th Special Operations Wing conducts sinking exercise during RIMPAC 2024
Bolstering the theory that a special operations boarding mission may be imminent, U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft have been observed by online trackers following the Marinera.
A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon maritime patrol jet taking off from RAF Mildenhall on Jan. 4. (Andrew McKelvey)
Other nations are following the oil tanker. Irish Air Corps C-295W maritime search aircraft have also been observed by flight trackers operating near the location of the Marinera.
There are other potential reasons for the special operations aviation assets to be deployed to Europe. One possibility is a NATO exercise called Steadfast Dart 2026 that kicked off on Jan. 2.
The exercise “is a Joint Deployment Exercise to test and train the operational deployment and reinforcement of the [Allied Reaction Force] ARF 25 Elements to NATO Vigilance Area Center under peacetime conditions,” according to NATO. However, given that this was a long-planned exercise, the snap nature of the deployments from Fort Campbell and elsewhere makes it unlikely there is a connection.
Meanwhile, SOAR is also conducting a recruiting drive in Germany that begins Jan. 6, the regiment stated on X. It is unclear how many, if any, SOAR aircraft have been forward deployed for the recruitment effort. SOAR did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
KATTERBACH / ANSBACH,GERMANY. The 160th SOAR recruitment team will hold career opportunity briefs on 06 JANUARY 2026 at Katterbach/Ansbach. Looking to Go Beyond the Conventional in your military aviation career you’ll want to attend. Learn More & Apply at https://t.co/lM8G5cgcF9. pic.twitter.com/aTixBcpAm8
Beyond these possibilities, there has been speculation that some U.S. assets might be heading to the Middle East ahead of a potential future conflict with Iran. We saw similar movements in the run-up to Operation Midnight Hammer, the June attack on Iran that saw U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit stealth bombers drop 14 30,000-pound GBU-57/B Massive Ordnance Penetrator (MOP) bunker buster bombs on Iran’s Fordow and Natanz nuclear facilities.
It is also possible that the cargo flights to the Middle East are routine. There is a lot of air traffic back and forth from that region.
For example, five US Air Force C-17s landed in the region Wednesday, i didn’t even post about it because it is very normal, i dont do fearmongering pic.twitter.com/ZgfjXlJ0LS
Still, given that other major U.S. operations have followed these kinds of aircraft deployments, and the situation with the now Russian-flagged Marinera tanker and reports of it being a harder target than what has been seen in other recent boarding operations, the 160th SOAR may be back at it on a world stage very soon.
Weekly insights and analysis on the latest developments in military technology, strategy, and foreign policy.
There is a growing presence of U.S. special operations forces (SOF) assets in the Caribbean as the Trump administration prepares for possible kinetic actions against Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro. These SOF elements are part of a large buildup of U.S. military equipment and personnel in the region. You can catch up to our most recent coverage of Operation Southern Spear here.
Satellite images emerging online show at least five MC-130J Commando II multi-mission combat transport planes are now at Rafael Hernandez International Airport (RHIA) in Puerto Rico. The Commando IIs appear to have arrived on Dec. 17. There are at least nine Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft there as well, according to a recording of air traffic control conversations shared with The War Zone. The presence of the Ospreys was first reported by The Wall Street Journal.
A Sentinel-2 pass on 22 December of Rafael Hernández International Airport (BQN/TJBQ) in Puerto Rico shows the presence of five USAF MC-130Js parked on the southeast side of the airport.
The aircraft type and quantity have been confirmed using other publicly available means. pic.twitter.com/XHb8uuNgu7
U.S. Special Operations Command and Air Force Special Operations Command declined comment when we inquired about the deployment. U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), which oversees military operations in the region, also declined comment, citing operational security concerns.
The presence of these aircraft provides a drastic expansion of special operations aerial support capability for Operation Southern Spear. The CV-22s offer greater range and speed compared to their traditional rotary-wing counterparts. This allows them to penetrate deeper into contested territory without tanker support, which could prove highly beneficial for a country as large as Venezuela. They also get to where they are going faster and in any weather. This is especially important for combat search and rescue (CSAR) duties where every minute counts. Typically, USAF CV-22s execute special operations infiltration and exfiltration missions and CSAR.
CV-22 (USAF)
The MC-130J is an extremely capable special operations transport and tanker, that can deliver cargo and personnel deep inside contested territory in any weather. They can do this by landing on rough fields or air dropping cargo and personnel. They commonly refuel CV-22s, HH-60s, MH-60s, and MH-47s, but can also provide refueling for other probe-equipped helicopters. Setting up forward arming and refueling points in austere areas is another mission they execute, along with providing communications support and other ancillary duties. It’s worth noting that the 160th Special Operations Air Regiment (SOAR), better known as the Night Stalkers, is also in the region, including aboard the special operations mothership MV Ocean Trader. MH-47s and MH-60s from the 160th would make use of the MH-130J’s refueling capabilities.
An MC-130J Commando II assigned to the 1st Special Operations Wing refuels a U.S. Army MH-60M Black Hawk assigned to the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) during a helicopter air-to-air refueling exercise near Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 20, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isabel Tanner) Airman 1st Class Isabel Tanner
Other special operations C-130s are also in the region, including the deployment to El Salvador of at least one AC-130 Ghostrider gunship. A video posted on Monday of the latest U.S. military strike on a suspected drug boat clearly shows it being raked by a Ghostrider’s gunfire.
Back in October, we suggested that the AC-130s were being used in at least some of the boat attacks, of which there have been more than two dozen, killing more than 100 people.
This looks like an AC-130J Ghostrider’s work. Two shots from the 30mm. We know AC-130 is deployed to PR.
As we have discussed before, engaging small boats is something AC-130 crews train for & is an established mission set for the type. https://t.co/VIoNpHBYE3
It’s also worth noting that there are other special operations aircraft surely in the region, such as U-28 Dracos and others. These are just the ones we see in relatively public places or areas where U.S. activity is already prevalent.
Back to military aircraft at Rafael Hernandez International Airport in Puerto Rico, the airport plays host to MQ-9 Reaper drones, images of which first began appearing online in September. MQ-9s been used in boat attacks as well.
???Reapers in the Caribbean Unclassified satellite imagery reveals two MQ-9 Reaper drones at Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen in Puerto Rico (Aguadilla).
With a long endurance and advanced sensors, these assets are critical for counter-narcotics and maritime surveillance,… pic.twitter.com/MUq70nhxNC
The airport has a long history of hosting U.S. military aviation assets. Originally opened up in 1936 as Borinquen Field and later was renamed as Ramey Air Force Base before being closed in 1973. During its time in operation, the base hosted a variety of bombers, including B-17s, B-24s, B-29s, B-50s, B-36s and B-52s, according to the Ramey Air Force Base Historical Association.
B-24 Liberators at Borinquen Field. (Army Corps of Engineers)
The U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Borinquen still operates from the airport. A compendium of satellite imagery dating back to early October shows a large-scale construction project at the airport. A big swath of land adjacent to the runway and next to the original military ramp has been cleared and there appears to be construction of new hangars or other structures. These additions are a strong indication that the U.S. military presence at the airport is growing and will be sustained for some time to come.
In addition to the special operations aircraft, online trackers show that C-17 Globemaster III cargo jets have landed in Puerto Rico from Lawson Army Airfield at Fort Benning, Georgia. That’s the home of the 75th Ranger Regiment, a special operations airborne unit used to seize airfields, among other operations. A spokesman for the regiment on Monday declined comment on these movements, referring us to SOUTHCOM, which has also declined comment.
Online trackers also showed flights to Puerto Rico from Fort Campbell in Kentucky and Fort Stewart in Georgia, The Wall Street Journal reported. The publication added “that military personnel and equipment were transported on planes” from those bases. SOUTHCOM declined to comment on those movements as well.
Meanwhile, as the Trump administration increases military pressure on Maduro, it is also continuing to take aim at Venezuelan oil shipments in an effort to squeeze him economically as well. As one of the world’s largest oil producers, Venezuela relies heavily on it. Since Trump enacted a blockade on sanctioned ships entering or leaving Venezuela, the U.S. has seized two and has pursued a third. Amid these actions, both China and Russia raised protests at the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday, calling the blockade and tanker seizures “cowboy behavior” and “intimidation.”
Russia’s UN Envoy Nebenzya:
For several months now, the entire world has had the opportunity to observe the way that the United States has been continuing to deliberately foment tensions around the friendly nation of Venezuela under the pretext of combating drug trafficking and… pic.twitter.com/bRLhwG6wmA
So far, U.S. kinetic actions in the Caribbean have been contained to the boat strikes. However, Trump issued a warning to Maduro on Monday after suggesting the Venezuelan leader should step down.
“He can do whatever he wants, it’s alright, whatever he wants to do,” Trump told reporters after unveiling his proposed Trump class battleships. “If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”
Regardless of the overt messaging, if anything ends up happening, it’s clear the Pentagon is planning for the special operations community to provide a disproportionate contribution to the overall operation.
