Singapore chose the US-made F-35 fighter jet over the Chinese one.
(Baonghean.vn) - On January 18, the Singapore Ministry of Defence announced that it has chosen the F-35 fighter jet to replace its aging fighter fleet. Thus, this Southeast Asian nation has chosen the American aircraft instead of models from Europe and China.
Previously, Singapore, one of the countries with the best-equipped militaries in Asia, announced it was evaluating Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet, along with Europe's Eurofighter Typhoon and stealth fighters manufactured by China.
 |
| Singapore will buy F-35s from the US. Photo: AP |
The Singapore Ministry of Defence statement said: “The F-16s will have to be withdrawn soon after 2030 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been identified as the most appropriate replacement model to maintain the Republic of Singapore’s Air Force capabilities.”
The ministry added that the Air Force should first purchase a “small number” of F-35s “to comprehensively assess the capabilities and compatibility of these aircraft before deciding to take over a full squadron.”
On the same day, Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen emphasized that it took Singapore more than five years to make a decision because the country needed to carefully consider the technical details of the aircraft.
Mr. Ng added: “Our relevant agencies will now have to engage in dialogue with our American partners to expedite the procurement process of these aircraft.”
