SINGAPORE — The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) will be exercising the option to acquire eight more F-35B fighter aircraft set to be delivered by 2029 on top of four of the aircraft that it ordered in 2020, said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Friday (Feb 24).
Dr Ng was speaking during the Committee of Supply debate on his Ministry’s budget, where he also noted that defence spending in the current financial year will be a projected S$18 billion, or a 5.6 per cent increase from financial year 2022.
“We need to remind ourselves constantly that investing steadily in defence is the more prudent and cost-effective strategy, especially during good times and peace,” said Dr Ng.We need to remind ourselves constantly that investing steadily in defence is the more prudent and cost-effective strategy, especially during good times and peace.
After agreeing to buy the initial four F-35B aircraft, it gave personnel from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Defence Science and Technology Agency exclusive access to evaluate the planes, said Mindef in a separate statement released on Friday. The first four of aircraft announced to be purchased in 2019 are on track to be delivered to Singapore by 2026, while the remaining eight will be delivered by 2029.Stealth capabilities such as radar absorbent material and systems with low observable technology, meaning the F-35Bs are able to evade enemy detection and operate in “contested environments”, said Mindef
The aircraft is 15.6m long and has a height of 4.36m, about the length and height of a double-decker bus, and a wingspan of 10.7m. He added that defence is a"long-term business". For instance, the SAF's major systems and platforms take 10 to 15 years to conceptualise, build and integrate into Singapore's fighting force.
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