F-35 Fighter Jet to Go on Display at Singapore Airshow

Channel NewsAsia

09 February 2016

SINGAPORE: The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter will be on display at this year’s Singapore Airshow, which will be held from Feb 16 to Feb 21. There will also be a flight simulator so visitors can get a feel of the fighter jet that Singapore has expressed its interest in buying.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has expressed interest in the F-35 since as early as 2003, when it joined a programme to develop the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF). It is the only fifth-generation fighter presently available on the market and observers said it suits Singapore’s needs.

The F-35 offers advanced stealth, ground attack and sensing capabilities for reconnaissance and surveillance. Additionally, some versions of the fighter only require a small area for take-off and landing.

“Singapore has such a small amount of territory,” said Mr Richard Bitzinger, senior fellow at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies‘ Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies. “It only has a certain amount of territory for airfields and a certain finite number of airfields, and one of the things you’re concerned about is of course enemy air attacks on your airfields that render them useless.

“If you want to use it in the vertical take-off, you could use it roughly in the same space as a helicopter landing pad,” he added.

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Last updated on 10/02/2016