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Dream Buy [ AIR SYSTEMS ]

SINGAPORE HAS DECIDED TO BUY A SMALL NUMBER OF F-35S
FOR EVALUATION BEFORE DECIDING ON A FULL FLEET

Jay Menon

Singapore's dream to acquire fully-developed fifth generation (MINDEF) has decided to buy a small number
fighter jets from Lockheed Martin moved one step closer to reality of F-35s for evaluation before deciding on a full
with the U.S. Department of Defence announcing an approval of a fleet. The aircraft has been chosen to replace
sale of up to 12 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) its ageing F-16s.
Joint Strike Fighters (JSFs) as well as associated spare parts, logis-
tics, and training support. In one of the first approvals in 2020, The "THE EVALUATION RECOMMENDED
U.S. Defence Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required THE ACQUISITION INITIALLY
certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on January
9. The deal is worth about US$2.75 billion. OF A SMALL NUMBER OF F-35S
FOR A FULL EVALUATION AND
According to a U.S. government spokesman, the State Department ASSESSMENT BEFORE THE RSAF
has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military COMMITS TO A FULL FLEET OF
Sale to Singapore of up to 12 F-35B STOVL aircraft, following
a request from them to buy four aircraft with the option to pur- BETWEEN 40 AND 60 AIRCRAFT
chase an additional eight later. The Singapore government also TO EQUIP THREE SQUADRONS," a
had requested up to 13 Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines (including defence observer in Singapore notes.
1 initial spare), and Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control,
Communication, Computers and Intelligence/Communication, MINDEF announced early last year that it
Navigation and Identification (C4I/CNI) system, and Autonomic had identified the F-35 as the "most suit-
Logistics Global Support System (ALGS) besides other equipment. able replacement" for the Royal Singapore
Singapore has been a strategic friend and major security coop- Air Force's ageing F-16C/D multirole combat
eration partner and an important force for political stability and aircraft. "Happy to report that DSTA Defence
economic progress in the Asia Pacific region. "This proposed sale Science and Technology Agency and RSAF
of F-35s will augment Singapore's operational aircraft inventory have completed their technical evaluation for
and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defence capability, the replacement,” a social media post last year
adding to an effective deterrence to defend its borders and con- by Singapore’s Defence Minister, Ng Eng Hen
tribute to coalition operations with other allied and partner forces," reads. “It took longer than expected – more
the spokesman says. than five years – as they had to go through
Defence experts opine that Singapore's Ministry of Defence in detail specifications and needs, which they

40 | January/February 2020 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT