The South Korean Navy has officially deployed six P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft for operational duties as of the 3rd, supporting anti-submarine, anti-ship, and maritime operations significantly enhancing its anti-submarine warfare (ASW) and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities against North Korea, ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

According to reports from Yonhap News Agency, the South Korean Navy received six P-8A aircraft last June and formally replaced the P-3 fleet that had been in service since 1995 after a year of evaluation and testing on the 3rd. The P-8A has a speed of up to 907 km/h, exceeding the 750 km/h of the P-3 patrol aircraft, with a wider operational radius.

In addition to advanced ISR and electronic warfare systems, it is equipped with missiles and torpedoes for precision strikes against maritime targets, and it can carry up to 120 sonobuoys for detecting, identifying, and tracking enemy submarines.