Singapore
Singapore will replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with F-35 Joint Strike Fighter , the defence ministry announced on Friday, as the city-state opts for the US warplane over European and Chinese-made stealth fighters.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in June last year had said that Singapore was evaluating a range of options, including Lockheed Martin’s F-35, Europe’s Eurofighter Typhoon and Chinese-made stealth fighters to replace F-16s.

The RSAF is expected to acquire a “small number” of the F-35 JSF for a full evaluation. This follows a five-year technical evaluation by the RSAF and Defence Science and Technology Agency.

“The technical evaluation also concluded that the RSAF should first purchase a small number of F-35 JSFs for a full evaluation of their capabilities and suitability before deciding on a full fleet,” the defence ministry said in a statement.Details that will be discussed include price, quantity and which variant of the jet to buy, as well as issues like logistical requirements and the training of pilots.

The F-35A the conventional take-off and landing variant costs USD 89.2 million, according to maker Lockheed Martin. It is believed that Singapore is interested in the B variant, which costs more and can take off from shorter runways and land vertically, according to a Channel News Asia report.

If discussions are successful, Singapore will proceed to buy a few F-35s for a full evaluation. The length of this phase is unclear and will also depend on developments during tests by other militaries which operate the F-35.

What is clear, however, is that the defence ministry is working on a timeline that will not jeopardise the replacement of the F-16s, which face obsolescence beyond 2030. It is understood that the defence ministry is still on track to meet this target. “Our RSAF’s F-16s that were in service since 1998 will have to retire soon after 2030, even after their mid-life upgrades,” Ng said.