Singapore chooses US F-35 fighter jets over China
(Baonghean.vn) - On January 18, the Singapore Ministry of Defense announced that the country has chosen the F-35 fighter jet to replace its aging fighter fleet. Thus, this Southeast Asian country chose the American aircraft instead of European and Chinese models.
Previously, Singapore, one of the countries with the best-equipped military forces in Asia, announced that it was evaluating Lockheed Martin's F-35 fighter jet along with Europe's Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet and Chinese-made stealth fighters.
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| Singapore will buy F-35s from the US. Photo: AP |
The announcement of the Singapore Ministry of Defense stated: "The F-16 will be forced to withdraw early after 2030 and the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter has been identified as the most suitable replacement model to maintain the Air Force capability of the Republic of Singapore."
The ministry added that the air force should first purchase “small numbers” of F-35s “to fully assess the capabilities and compatibility of these aircraft before deciding to adopt a complete squadron.”
On the same day, Singaporean Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen emphasized that it would take more than five years for Singapore to make a decision, because the country needed to carefully consider the technical details of the aircraft.
“Our relevant agencies will now have to dialogue with their US counterparts to expedite the process of purchasing this aircraft,” Mr. Ng added./.
