Singapore to buy four F-35s, with option for eight more
Singapore plans to buy four US-made F-35 jet fighters to update its ageing current fleet, the defence minister said Friday 1 March 2019.
The city-state, which has one of Asia's best-equipped militaries, announced in January it had opted for the Lockheed Martin jets over rivals from Europe and China, and planned to first buy a small number before deciding on a full fleet.
Giving an update on the plans, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament that Singapore ‘will request an initial acquisition of four F-35s, with the option of a subsequent eight if we decide to proceed’.
The current price of an F-35 ranges from $90 million to $115 million, he said, adding the cost had been steadily falling due to healthy orders from around the world.
Ng said the sale had to be approved by US Congress, but had the backing of the US administration.
Singapore has for several years been assessing which fighter jet should replace its current fleet of F-16s, which are due to be taken out of service in around a decade.
The F-35 is a supersonic plane whose advanced stealth characteristic allow pilots to avoid detection by radars, according to Lockheed Martin. Its advanced electronic warfare capabilities enable pilots to locate and track enemy forces, jam radars and disrupt attacks.
The Singapore military also has F-15 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and submarines in its arsenal.
You may also like
More from Defence Notes
-
![New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia]()
New Zealand boosts defence spend to US$6.6 billion and vows increased closeness with Australia
This budget will be spent over the next four years and nearly doubles the country’s defence spending as part of GDP to 2%.
-
![UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”]()
UK Chancellor commits £2 billion to make the country a “defence industrial superpower”
Rachel Reeves announced port upgrades, protected budgets for innovation and investment in novel technologies.
-
![Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees]()
Avalon 2025: Australian defence budget meets the low expectations of show attendees
The Australian Budget was marked by tax cuts and a looming general election which led to little hope that there would be a substantial defence boost even with a big bill for nuclear submarines due.
-
![Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market]()
Launch of Gilat Defense targets DoD market
The communications company Gilat launched its new Gilat Defense division at the Satellite 2025 expo, with future solutions aimed at US military customers.
-
![Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft]()
Collins MAPS Gen II to equip US DoD watercraft
US services have already conducted multiple tests with military maritime systems fitted with the system.
-
![OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”]()
OCCAR expects substantial boost in programme numbers “in the coming months”
Europe’s Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) “has to establish itself…as a centre of excellence for cooperative Defence Equipment Programmes” in the face of growing threats and the need for rearmament, according to the organisation’s chairman.
