S$5.17b price tag for Singapore’s 20 F-35 jets revealed for first time

Singapore's purchase of 20 F-35 stealth fighters and related equipment is valued at $4.06 billion, as reported by the US government.

The first F-35 is expected to be delivered to a US airbase by the end of 2026, with local basing in Singapore anticipated by 2029.

The fleet will consist of 12 F-35Bs, stationed in Arkansas for training, and 8 F-35As, to be based at Tengah Air Base.

This acquisition aims to replace the RSAF's ageing F-16s and enhance operational flexibility.

SINGAPORE, Sept 4 — Singapore’s acquisition of 20 F-35 stealth fighters and related equipment is worth US$4.06 billion (RM16.4 billion), according to a US government report that marks the first official disclosure of the programme’s total cost.

The report, published in April and made public on August 3, also sets out new details on when the fifth-generation aircraft will be delivered and where they will be based, The Straits Times reported.

The first F-35 destined for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is expected to be delivered to a US airbase by the end of 2026, while Singapore is not expected to begin housing the jets locally until 2029.

Of the 20 aircraft ordered, 12 are F-35Bs, which the report said will be permanently stationed at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, where RSAF personnel will undergo training.

The F-35B is capable of short take-offs and vertical landings, allowing it to operate from shorter runways and giving Singapore greater flexibility given its limited land area.

Then defence minister Ng Eng Hen told Parliament in February 2024 that the aircraft’s capabilities would provide “more operational flexibility”.

Singapore initially ordered four F-35Bs in 2019, with an option for another eight. That proposed sale was valued by the US government at about US$2.75 billion.

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) exercised the option for the additional eight aircraft in 2023.

The remaining eight aircraft in Singapore’s planned F-35 fleet are F-35As, which are expected to be based at Tengah Air Base.

The US report said Mindef has begun designing a main operating base in Singapore for the F-35As, with the facility expected to be operational in the fourth quarter of the US fiscal year 2029, which runs from October 1, 2028, to September 30, 2029.

The F-35A has a greater weapons payload and range than the F-35B, carrying up to 8,160kg compared with 6,800kg for the F-35B. It can also fly up to about 2,200km, against roughly 1,667km for the F-35B.

When contacted, Mindef referred The Straits Times to a media response issued on February 9 in which it said details of the aircraft’s local delivery and basing arrangements had yet to be finalised.

The ministry said it would release more information once plans were firmed up, adding that the timeline and basing arrangements would depend on the wider project schedule and training requirements.

The F-35s are intended to replace Singapore’s ageing fleet of F-16 fighter jets.

Mindef had not previously disclosed the total cost of the acquisition.

Singapore’s cleanliness paradox: Better habits, higher standards — and more complaints

TikTok removes viral AI images of Singaporeans missing in Nepal floods

China detains 52 Singaporeans in Guangxi over suspected pyramid-scheme offences

Anwar: Malaysia, Macau to strengthen strategic ties and unlock new business opportunities

MACC drops orange garb requirement for suspects brought to court for remand

Anwar says orange detention garb unnecessary for those cooperating with investigations

据美国政府报道，新加坡购买20架F-35隐形战斗机及相关设备，价值40.6亿美元。

预计首架 F-35 将于 2026 年底交付给美国空军基地，预计 2029 年将在新加坡部署。

该机队将由 12 架 F-35B 组成，驻扎在阿肯色州进行训练；另有 8 架 F-35A 驻扎在登加空军基地。

此次采购旨在替换新加坡空军老旧的F-16战机，并增强作战灵活性。

新加坡，9 月 4 日——据美国政府一份报告显示，新加坡采购 20 架 F-35 隐形战斗机及相关设备的价值为 40.6 亿美元（164 亿令吉），这是该计划总成本首次正式披露。

据《海峡时报》报道，该报告于 4 月发布，8 月 3 日公开，其中还列出了第五代飞机何时交付以及驻扎地点的最新细节。

预计首架交付给新加坡空军的 F-35 将于 2026 年底交付给美国空军基地，而新加坡预计要到 2029 年才会开始在本地部署这些战机。

报告称，订购的 20 架飞机中有 12 架是 F-35B，这些飞机将永久驻扎在阿肯色州史密斯堡的埃宾空军国民警卫队基地，新加坡空军人员将在那里接受训练。

F-35B 具备短距起飞和垂直降落能力，使其能够在较短的跑道上起降，鉴于新加坡的土地面积有限，这赋予了新加坡更大的灵活性。

时任国防部长黄永宏在2024年2月向国会表示，该飞机的性能将提供“更大的作战灵活性”。

新加坡最初于 2019 年订购了四架 F-35B 战斗机，并拥有再增购八架的选择权。美国政府对这笔拟议的军售估价约为 27.5 亿美元。

国防部于 2023 年行使了增购 8 架飞机的选择权。

新加坡计划中的 F-35 机队中剩余的八架飞机是 F-35A，预计将部署在登加空军基地。

美国报告称，国防部已开始在新加坡设计 F-35A 的主要作战基地，该设施预计将于 2029 年美国财年第四季度投入运营，该财年从 2028 年 10 月 1 日持续到 2029 年 9 月 30 日。

F-35A 的武器载荷和航程都比 F-35B 更大，其有效载荷高达 8,160 公斤，而 F-35B 的有效载荷为 6,800 公斤。F-35A 的航程也可达约 2,200 公里，而 F-35B 的航程约为 1,667 公里。

当被问及此事时，国防部让《海峡时报》参考2月9日发布的一份媒体回应，其中称飞机在当地的交付和驻扎安排的细节尚未最终确定。

该部表示，一旦计划确定，将发布更多信息，并补充说，时间表和基地安排将取决于更广泛的项目进度和培训要求。

F-35战斗机旨在取代新加坡老旧的F-16战斗机机队。

国防部此前并未披露此次收购的总成本。

新加坡的清洁悖论：更好的习惯、更高的标准——却伴随着更多的投诉

TikTok删除了在尼泊尔洪灾中失踪的新加坡人的AI图像。

中国在广西拘留52名新加坡人，涉嫌参与传销活动

安华：马来西亚与澳门将加强战略联系，开拓新的商业机遇

反贪污委员会取消对被带到法庭还押候审的嫌疑人穿橙色服装的要求

安华表示，配合调查的人员没有必要穿橙色拘留服。