South Korea Considering Boeing, Embraer & KAI Options For New Maritime Patrol Aircraft

South Korea has officially kicked off the acquisition phase for six additional maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), jets which will help it expand its coverage beyond the P-8A fleet that the nation already operates. Boeing is in the works to pitch more P-8A Poseidon aircraft, while Embraer is offering up a new Embraer E190-E2 MPA concept and studying a larger C-390 MPA aircraft. Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) is floating a solution based on the Bombardier Global 6500, which would localize these mission systems and allow the South Korean government to purchase these aircraft from a domestic manufacturer.