Singapore to procure 8 new F-35A Lightning II 5th-generation fighters

 

F-35A Lightning II fighters, these examples in service woth the Royal Australian Air Force. Photo c/o Australian DoD.

Singapore’s Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen has announced on 28 February 2024 that the country will be procuring 8 new F-35A Lightning II 5th-generation fighter aircraft for the Repbulic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), which are expected to be delivered by 2030.

The announcement was made during parliamentary debates on Singapore’s defence budget, citing that the F-35 has become a proven platform, while economies of scale from massive orders from the United States and other countries has allowed it to be more affordable than before.

Singapore already confirmed an order for 12 of the short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capable F-35B Lightning II in 2020, making the total procurement of F-35 fighter aircraft by the city state to 20 aircraft.

The F-35A is the standard conventional take-off and landing variant of the F-35 serries of 5th generation fighter aircraft developed by American defense giant Lockheed Martin, and will have greater endurance and higher payload capacity than its STOVL counterpart.

Dr. Ng did not disclose the price Singapore will be paying for the new fighters, but mentioned that it is similar in cost to the RSAF’s existing F-15SG Strike Eagle twin-engine fighters. 

He also said that the lower cost of the F-35A compared to years before created a “window of opportunity” that makes it attractive to procure at this time.

The F-35A and B Lightning II are expected to replace the RSAF’s fleet of F-16C/D Fighting Falcon single-engine fighters, which it has been operating since the late 1990s, and are targeted to start retirement from service by the 2030s.

Singapore is the first country in Southeast Asia to have 5th generation fighter aircraft, keeping the RSAF’s status as the most advanced in the region.

In addition, Singapore announced that its defense budget for 2024-2025 financial year will reach S$20.2 billion (around US$15 billion), or 2.5% higher than the previous year. While the budget increased, the share of defese spending as a percentage of Singapore’s gross domestic product (GDP) remains at 3%.

[1] The Straits Times

[2] Channel News Asia

[3] MediaCorp Today

Singapore announces plans to replace Heron 1, Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles

 

A Heron 1 UAV. Photo c/o Janes.

The Chief of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), Major General Kelvin Khong announced that the service is already looking ahead with plans to replace its fleet of Heron 1 and Hermes 450 unmanned aerial vehicles in the future as part of its modernization efforts.

The Elbit System Hermes 450 and  IAI Heron 1 UAVs, which provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to the RSAF and Singapore Armed Forces as a whole, have been in service since 2007 and 2012, respectively.

The Heron 1 reached Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2017, while the Hermes 450 reached FOC in 2022. 

No information on the timeline and potential replacement for these UAVs were provided, although it is expected that they would be larger and more capable than both existing UAV models, and may even have firepower delivery capabilities.

There have been reports back in 2022 that the Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) ordered up to 12 new Hermes 900 UAVs from Elbit Systems in a deal believed to be worth US$300 million. 

If confirmed, the Hermes 900 might not be replacements for both the Heron 1 and Hermes 450 but are most likely to complement them in operating over the far edges of Singapore’s Sea Lane of Communications (SLC). 

[1] Janes

[2] Alert 5

Brunei inducts into service its first two C-295MW transport aircraft

One of the RBAirF's C-295MW aircraft. Photo x/o Airbus Defence.

The Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF) has inducted the first two Airbus C-295MW tactical transport aircraft into service on 16 February 2024.

These are the same aircraft that arrived in BRAirF’s Air Movement Centre at Rimba Air Base on 24 January 2024.

The aircraft is an important addition to its small fleet, allowing the Royal Brunei Armed Forces to conduct combat and non-combat missions including tactical air troop and cargo transport, paratrooper platform, airdrop operations, VIP transport,  and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) operations, search and rescue (SAR) and medical evacuations.

The aircraft will also help in supporting operations of the Royal Brunei Air Force within the region.

Two more aircraft are expected to arrive soon, as part of a contract signed between Brunei’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and Airbus Defence and Space last 02 December 2022.

The four aircraft will replace a single Indonesian-made CN-235M-110M transport aircraft that the RBAirF has been operating since 1997, while the larger aircraft and four-fold number also boosting the operational capabilities of the service and the entire Royal Brunei Armed Forces.

[1] Airbus Defence

[2] Janes

Australian Hunter-class frigate to proceed after surviving future fleet review

 

A scale model of the Hunter-class frigate. Photo c/o Defence Connect.

The Australian Government completed a stringent review of their planned future naval fleet, with the troubled Hunter-class frigate project escaping a call for it to be axed due to problems during its implementation.

At least six of the ships are expected to be built for the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), and could potentially open for more ships to be built depending on the outcome of the “Future Navy” plan that is scheduled to be unveiled this month.

Under the “Future Navy” plan, the emphasis on “continuous naval shipbuilding” could benefit the Hunter-class frigate, which originally called for nine ships to be built.

Aside from replacing the RAN’s ageing ANZAC-class frigates, the new Hunter-class could fill in future requirements including for calls for more Tier 1 surface combatants, with some speculating that up to 16 ships might be built including as potential replacements to the current Hobart-class air warfare destroyers.

The Hunter-class are based on the UK Royal Navy’s Type 26 Global Combat Ship designed by BAE Systems, with modifications made to suit the Royal Australian Navy’s requirements. The ships will be built in South Australia by ASC Shipbuilding under supervision by BAE Systems Australia.

Due to these Australian-specified requirements, the ship’s dimensions and weight, as well as the cost to construct and sustain the ship have increased, which has become a reason for the project to be scrutinized by a team led by former US Navy Admiral William Hilarides.

It is believed that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak may have personally advocated the project with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as the best option to compliment the upcoming AUKUS nuclear-powered submarines.

To counter calls that the current design of the Hunter-class frigates lack firepower with only having 32-cells of vertical launching systems (VLS), BAE Systems has unveiled a modified version which has 96-cells using Mk. 41 and the Mk.57 Peripheral Vertical Launch System (PVLS), and at the expense of the ship’s anti-submarine warfare capabilities including the loss of its towed array sonar and its mission bay.

The up-armed version of the Hunter-class could be implemented starting on the fourth ship of the class, subject to the Australian Department of Defence’s decision.

[1] ABC News

[2] The Eurasian Times

Thailand to request funding for initial batch of new fighter aircraft

 

The F-16 Block 70/72 Viper is among those beong considered by the RTAF. Photo c/o Lockheed Martin.

The Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) was reported to be raising a request for funding with the Thai Government for the acquisition of an initial batch of  4 fighter aircraft.

The new fighters are needed to start the gradual replacement of ageing fighter aircraft, with the American F-16 Block 70/72 Viper or F-35A Lightning II, and Swedish JAS-39E/F Gripen being considered, according to the RTAF Commander in Chief Air Chief Marshall Punpakdee Pattanakul.

A budget of THB19 billion (US$538 million) is eyed for request in the next fiscal year 2025, with the selected manufacturer required to offer a reciprocal counter-trade proposal to offset the cost.

ACM Pattanakul mentioned but did not confirm that Sweden’s JAS-39E/F Gripen may offer a better offset package than its American competitor, and this would be evaluated further by the RTAF’s selection committee.

The RTAF is expected to not have any issues should it select the F-16 Viper or JAS-39E/F Gripen, as it already operate earlier versions of both types for several years and has established supply chains with both the US and Sweden to sustain both aircraft models.

The indication of interest in the F-35A Lightning II is also a sign that the RTAF has not given up on its sights in the 5th-generation American fighter, which was reported months ago to have been rejected by the US Government. 

[1] Bangkok Post

[2] BNN Bloomberg

[3] Venture Capital Post