SHAH ALAM: On the same day, that Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced it had won the FLIT-LCA tender for the RMAF, Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen announced it was buying eight Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II stealth fighter adding to the four it had already procured.
Ng told Singapore parliament that the eight aircraft will be delivered by the end of the decade. The F-35s will replace the Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter jets.
From CNA:
In 2019, Singapore announced the acquisition of an initial four F-35Bs, which are on track for delivery by 2026. The purchase was worth an estimated US$2.75 billion, according to a US government press release.
That deal included an option for eight more F-35 jets. Dr Ng on Friday said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had decided to exercise the option for the F-35B variant after an extensive evaluation.
“MINDEF and the SAF have concluded that the F-35 is the best choice to meet our defence needs now and in the future,” he told Parliament.
The Defence Ministry has the largest estimated expenditure among the ministries for the 2023 financial year, at S$17.98 billion. This is a 5.6 per cent increase from FY2022. Almost all the money, or about S$17.04 billion, will go to the SAF.
MINDEF does not give detailed cost figures for the acquisition of planes, submarines and Army platforms as these can provide an indication of capabilities.
— Malaysian Defence
View Comments (14)
Is it wiser for RMAF to consider getting fifth-gen aircraft (mainly the F-35) within this decade or wait it out until sixth-gen aircraft are available and be an early adopter of such aircraft?
It is wiser to move to a fifth gen plane first, otherwise the move to a sixth gen one will be a too big chasm to bridge
One thing to note that F35 is prioritas sold to US allies and partners of F35 development project. The production lines are fully occupied.
Even SG Will receive the additional 8 units in 2030.
RMAF need a stopgap for 4.5 gen MRCA as ID already did with their Rafale/KFX/F15EX. It Will help the pilot transition to 5th gen platform.
The good news is in 2030s the F35 tech is more mature and the delivery time can be reduced. At the time SG receives this additional units 8 years from now the tech already different.
ubi kentang,
Even if we bought a batch of 5th gen LO platforms in the near future; are we able to get a AEW platform and other things which are needed in order to fully maximise the capabilities of the jet?
Whatever we buy should also be in numbers and not penny packets. Again it's a question of having the cash and the political will to spend it. We also need sufficient LIFTs in order to train pilots.
By 2030. Not in 2030. Can expect a few more batch orders by Sg to receive by 2030. F16V retire in stages from 2030 onward.
SG budget is $17.04Billion, while MY budget is RM 17.7Billion but when convert to USD$ terms it is; USD$12.7Billion vs USD$4Billion.
That is the intrinsic power of a strong economy, the defence matters will sort itself. Which is why its understandable that our Govt had focused more on building the economy rather than sorting out the defence.
Ubi kentang "Is it wiser for RMAF to consider getting fifth-gen aircraft (mainly the F-35) within this decade or wait it out until sixth-gen aircraft are available and be an early adopter of such aircraft?"
Being an early adopters does give one privy to a whole lot of economics counter trade, tech transfer & industrial ties in. Which goes a long way into making the costs easier to stomach.
Joe "That is the intrinsic power of a strong economy"
Technically it the Intrinsic power of a strong currencies. If we wanted a strong currencies then stop making the money printing machine go brrrrrr, Start exporting more while importing less, start paying more taxes while enjoying lower subsidies, as the currencies increase value a lot of out firm's particularly one that specializes in low value added activity would go belly up.
Joe "Which is why its understandable that our Govt had focused more on building the economy rather than sorting out the defence"
Bilahari Krisnan meanwhile would probably tell you that defense & economics are not mutually exclusive as Defense is part & partial of an economics system. US for example hold a lot of high value added IP and thus where & whome can get licensing to manufacturers such IP is up to whimp & fancy of uncle Sam.
"Which is why its understandable that our Govt had focused more on building the economy rather than sorting out the defence"'
It is indeed "understandable"' Nobody here is of the opinion that we should raise the defence budget to 3 percent of the GDP. What's not "understandable" or acceptable is we maintain the course; continuing to do things in the sane flawed manner resulting in a MAF whose capability doesn't reflect what we've spent on it.
Other countries spend more but they also get better value for what they spent.
The question on whether F35 is suitable falls back to the question of whether the MRCA can be single engined. If not then F35 is out. There are only 3 western 6th gen twin engine fighter programs - USAF NGAD, USN NGAD, and GACP. So whether Malaysia will consider F35 depends on whether RMAF will consider single engine for its MRCA requirements.
I wonder what the RMAF plan to do with its grounded Migs? We cannot sell it for parts? Atleast recover some capital from the sale.