SINGAPORE SIGNS LETTER OF INTENT FOR JOINT STRIKE FIGHTER
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Flight International 4-10 March 2003
Headlines
Defence Paul Lewis/Washington DC
Singapore's JSF move raises A-4 contest fears
Singapore's decision to join the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) development programme as a security co-operation participant(SCP) is raising concerns among rival manufacturers that it will overshadow the competitve selection in the near-term of a replacement for the air force's McDonnell Douglas A-4SU Skyhawks by 2007.
Singapore becomes the 11th nation and the first from the Asia-Pacific region to commit to the JSF. It has earmarked $50 million, which provides access to data, modeling amd country-unique system studies, but does not give programme office representation.
While the agreeement to join the system development and demostration(SDD) phase does not commit Singapore to ordering the F-35, its defence ministry acknowledges "JSF is a potential candidate to meet Republic of Singapore Air Force's longer-term operational requirements for a multirole fighter". This concerns some companies expecting to bid for Singapore's 18-24 aircraft A-4SU replacement programme.
Observers say Lockheed Martin's hopes of selling Singapore additional F-16C/D Block 52s would be boosted if the nation were to defer a decision on adding anotehr aircraft before the F-35 is ready. Singapore already operates 49 f-16s and will begin taking delivery of another 20 Block 52s from December.
JSF has already undermined fighter competitions in Australia and Netherlands, which have both joined SDD. Singapore's long-term goal is toreduce the number of different fighters in the air force's fleet from the current F-16, A-4SU and upgraded Northrop Grumman F-5S/T to just two types.
Rival manufacturers are pinning their hopes from Singapore needing a more modern air superiority fighter and the F-35 being available for export before 2015.
Contenders include Boeing F-15T and F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, Dassualt Rafale, Eurofighter Typhoon, F-16C/D Block 60 and Suhkoi Su-35. Singapore is to expected to shortlist two to three aircraft in May before issuing a request for proposals and Marketing final fighter selection in February next year. -
brilliant, they just announced the number of F-16s Singapore operates . . .
but anyway, who ever was it sometime ago in this forum who guessed the number of 67 was pretty damn accurate. . . -
Not a difficult thing to do really, just have to keep tabs on the official DoD sales notices and add them up and lop off those that were lost. BTW 49 is wrong, it should be 8+18+12+12-2 = 48. Add 20 on order and it becomes 68. Which was the number I posted a while backOriginally posted by laser51088:brilliant, they just announced the number of F-16s Singapore operates . . .
but anyway, who ever was it sometime ago in this forum who guessed the number of 67 was pretty damn accurate. . .
It was no guess
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Viper, although I also agree with your count, I still haven't seen any article that confirmed the 1997 batch loan-to-buy deal. There are no official record in the public domain. However, I cannot see any reason why RSAF would exericse the option to buy them. Furthermore, they have RSAF insign and are still based in Arizona.Originally posted by Viper52:Not a difficult thing to do really, just have to keep tabs on the official DoD sales notices and add them up and lop off those that were lost. BTW 49 is wrong, it should be 8+18+12+12-2 = 48. Add 20 on order and it becomes 68. Which was the number I posted a while back
It was no guess
Interestingly, 68 Vipers represent s a 1-to-1 replacement of the Skyhawks. I think pretty soon (when all the last 20 are delievered), we are going to see an official "retirement" of the Skyhawks except those still in France.
As for the new jet trainer, wonder if RSAF will shortlist T-50 as they are supposed to be built to represent the Vipers. Furthermore, they will also be supported by LM.
In the other front, it will definitely be interesting to see if RSAF will still select Rafales after the French really pissed the US govt over the UN veto of military action against Iraq. Perhaps the Bush administration will pressure Singapore to buy US if Singapore want to take a big part in the F35 project.
What do you think? -
Better not to retire or replace the Skyhawks altogether......
Hard to say no to Abri in respect to our 'retired' equipment. -
wads ur suggestion then since rsaf wans 2 types of a/c nia....Originally posted by buzz:Better not to retire or replace the Skyhawks altogether......
Hard to say no to Abri in respect to our 'retired' equipment. -
While on paper the 68 Vipers represent a 1-for-1 replacement, there are some other factors to consider. 7 are Block 15 A/Bs, whose capabilities in replacing the Skyhawks are limited, esp in the A/G arena. That leaves 61.Originally posted by Joe Black:Viper, although I also agree with your count, I still haven't seen any article that confirmed the 1997 batch loan-to-buy deal. There are no official record in the public domain. However, I cannot see any reason why RSAF would exericse the option to buy them. Furthermore, they have RSAF insign and are still based in Arizona.
Interestingly, 68 Vipers represent s a 1-to-1 replacement of the Skyhawks. I think pretty soon (when all the last 20 are delievered), we are going to see an official "retirement" of the Skyhawks except those still in France.
As for the new jet trainer, wonder if RSAF will shortlist T-50 as they are supposed to be built to represent the Vipers. Furthermore, they will also be supported by LM.
In the other front, it will definitely be interesting to see if RSAF will still select Rafales after the French really pissed the US govt over the UN veto of military action against Iraq. Perhaps the Bush administration will pressure Singapore to buy US if Singapore want to take a big part in the F35 project.
What do you think?
Take away 23(1 lost) based in the US. That leaves 38 in Singapore after the 20 are delivered. Not exactly 1 for 1 anymore is it?
The lease-to-buy arrangement was for the 1996 batch. While there has been no official confirmation of the purchase, I know from a friend in Aust who saw them 1st hand that at least one of the 5 Pitch Black Vipers wore a 1996 serial. I don't think the RSAF would being back a leased a/c when there are those in the US that we've bought right?
I really don't know, or want to comment on the NGF anymore, I personally will just sit back and watch events unfold -
Don't know about the flight characteristics for Advanced Jet Trainer and how our Skyhawks will perform in this role but if I'm not wrong, the Israelis were using them in this role.
IMHO should be going to replace the S211 instead of getting a replacement. -
It'll have to depend on the learning curve of a A-4 trainer. A trainer is supposed to be easy to fly. . . not just a plane that lets 2 people, both pilots, sit in it. . .Originally posted by buzz:Don't know about the flight characteristics for Advanced Jet Trainer and how our Skyhawks will perform in this role but if I'm not wrong, the Israelis were using them in this role.
IMHO should be going to replace the S211 instead of getting a replacement. -
Agree. But I think that every tax dollar to Mindef should go as much as possible directly to the teeth and advanced jet trainers doesn't have much bite.
It'll have to depend on the learning curve of a A-4 trainer. A trainer is supposed to be easy to fly. . . not just a plane that lets 2 people, both pilots, sit in it. . .
Maybe the whole adv jet training should be outsourced to the US on a per head basis after some hours on the Skyhawks for screening purposes. -
F-35 in thunderbird scheme
http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Fea1/601-700/Fea614_X-35_Myers/fea614.htm
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kao the last pic look like a FallschimJaeger eagle.....
