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Singapore – Feb 12, 2020. US Marine Corps Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II flying for display in Changi, Singapore. Defense costs are increasing, especially in East Asia. Image Shutterstock / Phuong D. Nguyen.
Topic: Air Warfare, and Trade Blog Brand: The Buzz Region: Asia Tags: Arms Sales, F-35 Lightning II, Fighter Jets, Singapore, Southeast Asia, and United States Another Asian Nation Is on Track to Get the F-35 Fighter Jet This Year February 10, 2026 By: Peter Suciu
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Singapore plans to operate a handful of both the conventional F-35A and the short takeoff/vertical landing (STOVL) F-35B.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is set to receive its first US-made Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II fighter jets by the end of this year, according to an announcement at the recently concluded Singapore Airshow 2026. The program of record for the Southeast Asian city-state is for eight conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A aircraft, and for 12 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs.
Singapore first selected the Lightning II as its “next generation fighter jet” in 2019, with the US Congress approving the sale a year later. However, the tiny island nation has been a part of the program dating back to 2003 when it joined the Joint Strike Fighter initiative as a “Security Cooperation Participant.”
The 20 fifth-generation stealth fighters will replace the RSAF’s legacy F-16 Fighting Falcons, and will operate alongside Singapore’s fleet of F-15SG and upgraded F-16V fighters.
F-35A vs. F-35B: A Head-to-Head Comparison
| Aircraft | F-35A | F-35B |
| Year Introduced | 2015 | 2019 |
| Number Built | ~1,000 | ~150 |
| Length | 51 ft 4 in (15.7 m) | 51 ft 6 in (15.7 m) |
| Wingspan | 35 ft (10.7 m) | 35 ft (10.7 m) |
| Weight (MTOW) | 70,000 lb (31,800 kg) | ~60,000 lb (27,200 kg) |
| Engines | One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-100 afterburning turbofan | One Pratt & Whitney F135-PW-600 afterburning turbofan with shaft-driven lift fan for vertical landings |
| Top Speed | ~1,200 mph (1,930 km/h) / Mach 1.6 | ~1,200 mph (1,930 km/h) / Mach 1.6 |
| Range | ~1,380 mi (2,220 km) | ~1,040 mi (1,670 km) |
| Service Ceiling | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) | 50,000 ft (15,240 m) |
| Loadout | 1 GAU-22/A 25mm rotary cannon; internal bays, up to 4 AIM-120 AMRAAMs or 2 bombs + 2 AMRAAMs; external hardpoints, up to 18,000 lb (8,160 kg) of ordnance | Internal bays, up to 15,000 lb (6,800 kg) of ordnance; 6 external pylons |
| Aircrew | 1 | 1 |
Singaporean Pilots Will Train in America First
Although the F-35s will eventually be hosted at the Tengah Air Base in the western part of Singapore, the first F-35B Lightning IIs will almost certainly head to Ebbing Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in Arkansas for initial pilot training.
Up to eight F-35Bs are expected to arrive in Singapore by the end of 2028, with F-35As following in 2030.
“The F-35As, with greater endurance and higher payload capacity, will provide sustained reach and persistence, while the F-35Bs with short take-off and vertical-landing capability will offer greater operational agility,” Major Gen. Kelvin Fan, Singapore’s Chief of Air Force, said in a statement to Defense News.
Although Singapore lacks aircraft carriers or amphibious assault ships from which F-35Bs can operate, the decision to adopt the STOVL variant was based on its flexibility for dispersed operations. Those aircraft will be complemented by F-35A models, which offer greater range and payload.
In late September, Singaporean Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing visited Lockheed Martin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, to see the first RSAF fighters under construction.
F-35s Are Growing More Popular in Asia
Once Singapore receives its F-35s, it will join a growing club of Indo-Pacific nations operating the fifth-generation multirole stealth fighter. Currently, Australia, Japan, and South Korea have F-35s in service. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) operates 72 F-35As, making it the region’s largest operator of fifth-generation aircraft.
However, the Japan Self Defense Force (JSDF) will overtake the RAAF once its full order backlog is fulfilled, Simple Flying explained. The JSDF plans to operate a total of 105 Lightning IIs, including the F-35A from bases at Komatsu, Misawa, and Nyutabaru, Japan, and with its F-35B operating from the Izumo-class multipurpose helicopter destroyers that are being modified into de facto aircraft carriers.
South Korea, which has backtracked on plans for a light aircraft carrier, currently operates 60 F-35s across three squadrons at Cheongju Air Base.
“The combined forces of Australia, Japan, and Singapore, in complement to the US Armed Forces in the region, will allow for unprecedented interoperability and a powerful counter to China’s growing stealth fighter fleet,” Simple Flying added.
In addition to the growing number of F-35s in the region, there are heavy maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities in both Australia and Japan to service the aircraft.
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.
Image Shutterstock / Phuong D. Nguyen.
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Источник: nationalinterest.org