F-35 , Singapore in final stages

[Cire 0]

Singapore is in the final stages of evaluating the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter as a possible replacement for its F-15 and F-16 planes, the defence minister said in remarks published Tuesday.

Ng Eng Hen told parliament on Monday that the wealthy city-state was also looking to replace its submarine fleet as part of plans to further improve its military, already the best equipped in Southeast Asia.

"Though the F-35 is still in development, we are nonetheless interested in the platform for our future needs," Ng said during a debate on the national budget.

A recording of his remarks was posted Tuesday on a government website.

"The F-35 will be the vanguard of next-generation fighter aircraft in operation," he added.

Ng said Singapore's Boeing F-15 fighters "are nearing the end of their operational life" and its Lockheed Martin F-16s are at their mid-life mark.

"For the longer term, the RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) has identified the F-35 as a suitable aircraft to further modernise our fighter fleet. We are now in the final stages of evaluating the F-35," he said.

The single-engine fighter, which has advanced software and stealth capability, is being developed under a programme led by the United States, with eight countries helping to fund the aircraft.

Since the contract was awarded to US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin in 2001, the cost has skyrocketed and the project has been plagued with delays.

In the latest glitch, the US military last month suspended all test flights over potential engine problems after a crack was discovered on a turbine blade in one F-35 engine.

However, the Pentagon's director of the F-35 programme, Lieutenant General Christopher Bogdan, dismissed any talk of foreign customers backing out.

Singapore's defence ministry "will have to be satisfied that this state-of-art multi-role fighter meets our long-term needs, is on track to be operationally capable, and most importantly, is a cost-effective platform," Ng said.

He said Singapore was also aiming to replace its ageing Challenger class submarines which it acquired as refurbished units from Sweden in the 1990s.

str-mba/rc/mtp

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/130312/singapore-final-stages-evaluating-f-35

 

 

[David.W 0]

I do not understand why Singapore which is such a small country yet it has a much larger Air Force compared to ours? Is the RSAF over equipped or is RMAF under equipped?

 

Is it because of Singapore's location as a important economic hub that makes it an attractive target which is why the need for a larger force?

Edited March 13, 2013 by Tan Hao Ming

[Cire 0]

Perhaps as a counter-measure to aid neighboring countries as well, just in case such countries are over-run by its citizen turned-rebels who may make use of the captured military assets and used it against Singapore and any other surrounding countries.

The incident in Lahad Datu is one such small incident that could lead into bigger problem if left untreated for the Phillipines.

 

SAF could be deployed to help neighboring countries in containing the conflict before it spread down to the region and the Lion state country.

 

As for our RMAF, we are grossly under equipped and our assets are dated.

[xtemujin 0]

This Flightglobal article during the 2010 Singapore Airshow, shows the roadmap thinking.

http://www.flightglobal.com/features/singapore-special/defence/

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

As for our RMAF, we are grossly under equipped and our assets are dated.

And the moment they want update it, self-proclaimed experts come out and bash to no avail.

[Radzi 2]

RMAF should consider getting the F-35 too. However they should buy it at F-35 price, not F-22 price.

[Mohd Suhaimi Fariz 2]

RMAF should consider getting the F-35 too. However they should buy it at F-35 price, not F-22 price.

Question is, will the US release it for sale?

[Najib Ramli 0]

RMAF should consider getting the F-35 too. However they should buy it at F-35 price, not F-22 price.

 

it's unlikely the US would sell the F-35 to MY....they're selling it only to the development partners (mainly close allies ie: UK, Australia etc) and security partners Israel and Singapore (if you see it strategic regional partners for the US)....