#           Optional variable for specifying the backend to use for signing.
 #           Currently the only available option is 'local', i.e. local signing
 #           on the build host.
+# PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE
+#           Optional variable for specifying the type of gpg signature, can be:
+#               1. Ascii armored (ASC), default if not set
+#               2. Binary (BIN)
+#           This variable is only available for IPK feeds. It is ignored on
+#           other packaging backends.
 # GPG_BIN
 #           Optional variable for specifying the gpg binary/wrapper to use for
 #           signing.
 
 PACKAGE_FEED_SIGN = '1'
 PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_BACKEND ?= 'local'
-
+PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE ?= 'ASC'
 
 python () {
     # Check sanity of configuration
     for var in ('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_NAME', 'PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_PASSPHRASE_FILE'):
         if not d.getVar(var, True):
             raise_sanity_error("You need to define %s in the config" % var, d)
+
+    sigtype = d.getVar("PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE", True)
+    if sigtype.upper() != "ASC" and sigtype.upper() != "BIN":
+        raise_sanity_error("Bad value for PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE (%s), use either ASC or BIN" % sigtype)
 }
 
 do_package_index[depends] += "signing-keys:do_deploy"
 
         # Sign repomd
         if signer:
             for repomd in repomd_files:
+                feed_sig_type = self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE', True)
+                is_ascii_sig = (feed_sig_type.upper() != "BIN")
                 signer.detach_sign(repomd,
                                    self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_NAME', True),
-                                   self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_PASSPHRASE_FILE', True))
+                                   self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_PASSPHRASE_FILE', True),
+                                   armor=is_ascii_sig)
 
 
 class OpkgIndexer(Indexer):
             bb.fatal('%s' % ('\n'.join(result)))
 
         if signer:
+            feed_sig_type = self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_SIGNATURE_TYPE', True)
+            is_ascii_sig = (feed_sig_type.upper() != "BIN")
             for f in index_sign_files:
                 signer.detach_sign(f,
                                    self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_NAME', True),
-                                   self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_PASSPHRASE_FILE', True))
+                                   self.d.getVar('PACKAGE_FEED_GPG_PASSPHRASE_FILE', True),
+                                   armor=is_ascii_sig)
 
 
 class DpkgIndexer(Indexer):