The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore of up to twelve F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft and related equipment to Singapore for an estimated cost of $2.750 billion.
The US Government say that the proposed sale of F-35s “will augment Singapore’s operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability, adding to an effective deterrence to defend its borders and contribute to coalition operations with other allied and partner forces. Singapore will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces.”
According to a contract notice:
“The Government of Singapore has requested to buy up to twelve (12) F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft (four (4) F-35B STOVL aircraft with the option to purchase an additional eight (8) F-35B STOVL aircraft); and up to thirteen (13) Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines (includes 1 initial spare).”
Also included in the deal are:
- Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communication, Computers and Intelligence/Communication, Navigation and Identification (C4I/CNI) system;
- Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS);
- Autonomic Logistics Information System (ALIS);
- F-35 Training System;
- Weapons Employment Capability and other Subsystems, Features and Capabilities;
- F-35 unique infrared flares; reprogramming center access and F-35 Performance Based Logistics;
- software development/integration;
- aircraft transport from Ft. Worth, TX to the CONUS initial training base and tanker support (if necessary);
- spare and repair parts;
- support equipment, tools and test equipment;
- technical data and publications;
- personnel training and training equipment;
- U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and
- other related elements of logistics support.
The nine major partner nations, including the US, plan to acquire over 3,100 F-35s through 2035, which, if delivered will make the F-35 one of the most numerous jet fighters.
To read more about international participation, head on over here.
Given that the UK intends to send its carriers to the Far East and that Singapore is part of the 5 Power Alliance (UK, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia) this could be good news for the RN. Not saying that Singaporean aircraft would fly off our carriers, that would require a significant commitment all round, but the training and collaboration opportunities within the 5 Power framework would be significantly enhanced, as would the inter-operability between the our air arms…
do we know why they have gone for the “B” and not the “A”? Could inter-operability with USMC/JSDF/RN be a strong consideration?
Probably more for its Rough Field /Dispersal capabilities – Singapore is a small nation vulnerable to Attacks on its Defense Infrastructure.
Plus the country may be contemplating an aircraft carrier of their own. They have a very capable navy and I’m sure the idea has crossed their minds…
Cheers
I’m no expert on Singaporean defence doctrine but I do agree that a Singaporean carrier would make sense: valuable basing they could actually hide.
https://thediplomat.com/2020/01/explaining-singapores-interest-in-the-f-35b/
Cheers