USA approves Singapore to buy up to 12 F-35B stealth fighters
 

On Flight Global. Seems like the Singaporeans are going to join the F-35B fan club. ;)

From the article:-

Seems a bit OTT but it will give them a capability well beyond anyone else in the region guess

Although I understand the attractiveness of the B for dispersed operations (Singapore uses highway fields etc.) I would have bet on the A for them.

Likewise, SD. I wonder if they got a real good price and intend to work the 'interopability with USMC' and 'interopability with UK' angle as a reason for the B versus A decision?

Asturias56
They can afford them, as some others can't, so perhaps their idea is "why not go leading edge if you can afford it?"

They take an Israeli view as to the benefits of technological edge. It's hard to see what sort of tactics you can have when you're on a small island tho..................

You mean like having your big guns pointed at the sea when the threat is coming from the landside. I think the Singaporeans are well aware of the limitations of their geography and understand the need for the latest equipment. They have operated the F15 for years so the F35 is a logical upgrade. If the US offered the F22 they would probably have bought them.

Is the UK classified as a small island? :p

If the buckets of instant sunshine start flying its a very small island indeed..........................

........... and a very small planet!

Perhaps they think they'll lose their runways pretty quickly?

The Chinese ship most of their oil and much of their trade through the Malacca Straits. Although they are a long way off securing their maritime routes, allied air bases along the Malacca Straits should be considered prime targets for the PLA's IRBM's and ALCM's.

The Singaporean F-15's are permanently based in America, aren't they? Having them based in Singapore would be pointless because they would immediately lose their runway in a real war. Hence the choice of the B because there would be a realistic chance of operating in wartime.

Oh, how the World has moved on. I flew with the Singapore Air Force in (69/70) in one of their (2/3) Cessna 172s ... that was the inventory! And conducted OJT with their first 2 Mil ATCOs.

And look at Tengah Airbase now, on Google Earth, compared with what it used to be in my days.

From little acorns, etc. etc. :ok:

The vast majority of RSAF F-15 and F-16s are based at airbases in Singapore. Only part of their F-15/F-16 fleet are US based.



F-15s Paya Lebar

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paya_Lebar_Air_Base

F-16s Tengah

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tengah_Air_Base

I wonder if they are busy painting out the Turkish markings as we speak.

Except the Koreans, Japanese and Australians.

Unlikely, the Turks were buying F-35As. This approval is for F-35Bs.

"Except the Koreans, Japanese and Australians."

They're all 300-4500 kms away and not even the most gungho LM fan reckons an F-35 can make those distances. Plus I doubt the Singaporean's worry about them.

Their priorities are Malaysia, Indonesia and maybe Thailand - I don't think they want to get into a face-off with China

Buying the B model not only gives them dispersal options but also allows them to cross-operate with a range of other navies if they want to.

I didn't say they were neighbours or potential adversaries, but that they are in the same region. And if Australia is close enough for Singapore to base a shed load of its tanks there and New Zealand close enough that Singapore wanted to base a shed-load of its jets there, then I would say that Korea and Japan are close enough to be described as being in the same region also. No?

To your other points, yes.

And all three have an AAR capability, as does Singapore.