This means, even if there’s no immediate plan for the F-35Bs to serve on a naval asset such as the JMMS, this latent capability presents such a viable option in the future depending on how the threat landscape develops. The other characteristic of Singapore’s defence policy is also the incorporation of redundancies with the future in mind. So the purchase of the F-35B, which allows not only easy dispersal of air combat assets but also ease of deployment from unprepared or improvised airstrips and sites in land-scarce Singapore makes total sense. For a small country with the immutable problem of a lack in strategic depth, protecting and sustaining a viable combat power in the face of an enemy onslaught could pose a challenge. Naval News – Collin, what is the reason behind Singapore’s procurement of F-35B STOVL aircraft ? Is MINDEF looking to acquire a naval aviation capability (that would be unique in South East Asia) by deploying these aircraft from future large deck amphibious vessels of the RSN ? Or is this procurement rather driven by the small footprint of Singapore as a country and by its relatively small number of airfields available to the RSAF ?Ĭollin Koh – The RSAF has been following a doctrine of dispersal of assets, be it in the form of training detachments overseas or locally, in the form of emergency runways for instance. And when delivered, which we hope to be around 2026, the F-35Bs will be deployed in the US for training and in-depth evaluation.ĭr Ng Eng Hen, at the Ministry of Defence Committee of Supply Debate 2020, MINDEF is in the final stages of acquiring four F-35s, with an option to purchase eight more. We have obtained the US Government and Congress’ assent. But the F-35Bs, as Mr Kwek rightly pointed out, it has a full suite of sensors and fighting capabilities. The F-35B performed in the recent Singapore Airshow and its ability to swivel 360 degrees, was simply as some people said, awesome. We have decided on the F-35B variant of the aircraft, which can take-off from a shorter runway and land vertically, and it is an important feature in land scarce Singapore. Some have asked for an update on the acquisition of the F-35s. Singapore’s Minister of Defence made the following statement back in March 2020: Singapore could become the fifth nation to operate the F-35B at sea, as the South East Asia country.
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