via Reuters
We're in no particular hurry, because our F-16s are still very operational, and they're due for upgrades. But it is a serious consideration," Eng Hen said.Read it all here.
Another body blow for the program. No new orders from Singapore. No pushing down the cost curve. Death spiral still in progress.
Well, the F-35 never made sense for Singapore anyway; they don't have a serious security threat.
ReplyDelete...and buying the F35'll keep it that way.
DeletePiss Poor Planning Prevents Prime Performance.
SlowMan, it makes sense when you think 20-30 years down the line. By then, the F-15s to F-18s would have stopped production and upgrading as people standardize to the F-35, which means that if you want any upgrades to the old teen series plane, you'll have to pay for the development yourself. By keeping with the rest of the crowd, any upgrades others have for the F-35 can be begged, borrowed or stolen without forking out huge sums of monies for "development".
DeleteIf you think that is a trivial consideration, look at the amount the US spends on "development" that gets nowhere. Much cheaper to let others commit themselves first, then get the completed guaranteed product.
There are news of Singapore buying the F-35B...and then there are news that they will buy a new batch of 12 F-15s...still dont know it is the F-15SG or something more advanced....but i douth they will buy F-15s AND F-35s...just looks like a lot of money for such a small nation...time will tell.
ReplyDeleteSingapore doesn't need any new jets until 2020 or so when their old F-5s wear out.
DeleteWhen they do, they'll most likely go F-35B or A.
Singapore has something call "smart people running their nation" unlike the corruption riddled hell hole of Africa, South America, and chunks of Asia. They have the budget for expensive arms.
Too bad I found out afterwards, I would have driven out to LUKE AFB to catch an F35B in flight. Going to a public meeting with LUKE AFB officials this week, maybe I will hear something good.
ReplyDeleteSingapore has 24 two-seater F-15SG fighter-bombers and 74 F-16s. The last of those F-15SGs arrived last year. It's a configuration unique to Singapore and is the most advanced variant of the F-15.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I don't see how their planners could forsee tossing them. Looks like if they do elect to pick up the F35, it'll be at the expense/death of their F16 fleet.
It was the most advanced variant until Saudi arabia bought the F-15SA...those are the most advanced F-15s flying...not on service just yet.And there are the notional F-15 Silent Eagle and the Advanced Eagle displayed in the form of a scale model at a conference in Orlando , Florida , last february 24...
DeleteLast reports indicate 32 F-15SGs.
DeleteThe F-35s are actually replacements for the old F-5s, same as the F-15s are replacements for their retired A-4s.
It's not an air force expansion, it's just an air force upgrading. Same force levels more or less, just newer equipment as the old stuff is getting long in the tooth and a pain to maintain.
The only reason Singapore would buy the F35B is if they are planning to buy/build a small carrier of their own.....it would help somewhat in dispersing their forces which is a problem for such a small country. They have the money to buy one, I'm sure Spain or France would be very happy to sell them a small carrier or maybe even design/build it in country. Not sure why at this early stage they would buy the F35A, why buy it so soon, as I keep saying, let some other suckers waste their money getting it right THEN buy it....
ReplyDeleteSingapore is just a small island or one big unsinkable aircraft carrier. Then this carrier is gone another carrier somewhere out at the sea could do nothing. Singapore has to keep an enemy at distance. Therefore Singapore ordered more submarines. In case of an attack the carriers would be the first big targets any enemy would take out. For long range attacks Singapore already has tankers and is looking for new ones. The F-35B makes no sense. Singapore has enough emergency runways like highways and huge container harbors. The C-Version with a working hook would be better.
DeleteThe F-35 is just a better F-117. The beyond visible range air combat is a rare occasion in air space with civil air traffic.
The B requires an 800 foot runway with weapons and can vertically land.
DeleteAnyway, Singapore doesn't need any new jets until 2020 or so.
NICO got it right :)
DeleteIf Singapore should one day build the Endurance 160 class of the multi-role support ship, then, there will be a requirement for the F-35B. Right now, the class has not been built.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.stengg.com/products-solutions/products/endurance-160-multi-role-support-ship
And the brochure.
http://www.stengg.com/download/pdf/1145a3iazembefv3e5ef.pdf
Why would any country purchase an airplane that's still in development, with unsatisfactory reports on program management, quality control, reliability, performance and cost?
ReplyDeleteI've dealt with Singaporeans. And all I can say is they are very shrewd. Their military arm are as shrewd compared to the Israeli. As one Typhoon test pilot once said, "The Singaporeans ask the most difficult questions second only to the Israeli AF." And that means a lot.
ReplyDeleteLock-Mart won't be foolish to bully Singaporean Government because they know how the Singaporeans operate. Heck, they are terrified they might get black-listed. You don't s_crew around with the Singaporeans. Period