Showing posts with label JSF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label JSF. Show all posts

Friday 17 January 2020

Gimme STOVL : Singapore Decides On The F-35B






F-35B of the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501
Photo : Lockheed Martin





On 9th Jan 2020, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency ( DSCA ) announced that the US Department of State had just approved a potential Foreign Military Sale ( FMS ) to Singapore of up to 12 F-35B Short Take-Off And Vertical Landing ( STOVL ) aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of USD 2.75 billion.

Singapore's interest in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ) program had began in Mar 2004 when it became a security cooperative participant. For a very long time the Singapore government seemed contented to just monitor the progress of the JSF program as it matured. There were numerous instances when defense analysts and news agencies had indicated that Singapore might be ready to acquire the F-35 but the JSF deal had remained elusive. It even failed to materialize during Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's visit to the White House in 2016, at the invitation of President Obama.

All that changed in Jan 2019 when Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen announced that Singapore had identified the F-35 as a suitable candidate to replace its ageing F-16 fighters and would be acquiring a small number of the stealthy 5th generation fighter for a full evaluation of its capabilities and suitability before deciding on a full fleet.

By Mar 2019 it was revealed that Singapore would be requesting for an initial four F-35 JSF with an option for eight more, variant unspecified. Months of media speculation followed, but we now know that Singapore has selected the F-35B, the STOVL version which is the most expensive among the three F-35 variants.


The F-35 In A Nutshell


At a cost of more than USD 400 billion, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program is the most expensive weapons program the world has seen. Its aim is to produce an affordable fifth generation multi-role stealth fighter to replace various legacy fighters of the US and its closest allies. The F-35 comes in three variants, all having similar performance characteristics and share commonality in parts and processes in order to capitalize on the economies of scale to reduce procurement and sustainment costs. The variants cater to the differing service-specific requirements by the Air Force, Navy and Marines. To put it simply, the F-35A is the conventional take-off and landing ( CTOL ) version for the Air Force, the F-35B is the STOVL version for the Marines while the F-35C is the carrier variant ( CV ) for the Navy.

The JSF program is plagued with multiple issues from technical deficiencies, delays to cost overruns and the root of its many problems can be traced to its developmental concept of " concurrency ". The idea that in an era where new technology is emerging at an unprecedented rate, an aircraft design will be obsolete the moment its development has concluded. In order to field aircrafts with the latest technologies earlier, they will be produced before tests and trials are completed and eventually upgraded along the way to the latest standards.

Despite its troubled past, the JSF program has matured over the years and has seemed to turn around to deliver what was originally promised - affordable stealth. Unit prices have continuously fallen in the past several years due in part to an increase in production efficiency and to the economy of scale from an increase in aircraft orders.



New Capabilities for the RSAF



Acquiring the F-35B will bring two completely new capabilities to the Republic of Singapore Air Force ( RSAF ) - STOVL and Stealth. Between the two, I would believe STOVL is the most unique since there is not another country in the Asia Pacific region save Japan that has confirmed plans for such a capability.

Stealth technology can become an increasing crucial capability to have as Singapore's regional near-peer rivals begin to acquire sophisticated aircrafts like the Su-30 and Su-35 which can out-class even the RSAF's most advance fighter like the F-15SG. It can ensure higher survivability of the aircraft and pilot in an extremely hostile threat environment.

STOVL is equally important to ensure sustained generation of air operations in the event of disruptive attacks to Singapore's airbases. Aircrafts with short field capabilities can be dispersed and hidden more effectively on the ground and can have alternative means of take-off and landing even when the conventional runway is made unavailable by a pre-emptive strike.

In addition, having STOVL capable jets means that should the Singapore Navy decide to replace its Endurance-class landing ship tank with something bigger like the Endurance-160 Joint Multi-Mission Ship, these helicopter assault ships can be potentially modified for F-35B operations as well, converting them into light aircraft carriers. The JMMS then becomes mobile airfields at sea, projecting airpower and will be an added insurance against complete annihilation through a coordinated attack on Singapore's land based runway infrastructure.




F-35B of the Patuxent River Integrated Test Force
attempts vertical landing on the Queen Elizabeth II
3rd Nov 2018. Photo : USN 



STOVL : Unique Capability At A Price



The F-35B is not just the only modern STOVL jet fighter that is currently in production, it is also capable of supersonic flight. Its predecessor the AV-8B Harrier II which is also STOVL capable is at best only sub-sonic. This short field and austere field capability is the unique selling point of the F-35B but it comes at a price.

The requirement for STOVL capability in the F-35B meant that its design is the most complex among the three F-35 variants. It needed a proprietary shaft driven LiftFan propulsion system and an engine nozzle that can swivel 90 degrees when in STOVL mode. This in turns imposes limits on the size of the internal weapon bay and the internal fuel capacity which translates to a reduction in the weapons payload and combat radius. It even imposes structural limits and the F-35B has the lowest maximum g-rating among all the variants. Understandably the unit cost of the F-35B is also consistently the highest compared to the other variants.

So in view of the various technical setbacks peculiar to the F-35B, is the STOVL a capability worth having? The answer has to be an absolute yes if you intend to have fixed-wing flight operations on non-catapult equipped aircraft carriers like the navies of the United kingdom, Italy and Japan. It will also be a resounding yes for a small nation like Singapore which lacks strategic depth and has air bases that can be vulnerable to a determined attack by rocket, artillery and mortar fire from across its boarders.

Looking at the broader picture, the non-STOVL variants, the F-35A and the F-35C, also suffered similar functional and structural setbacks albeit to a lesser degree simply because of the requirement that all three variants had to have shared design and components with various degrees of commonality. In other words, the Marine Corps' insistent that STOVL capability must be included in their variant essentially resulted in the Air Force and the Navy having to accept compromises on their variants too. Compared with its 4th generation peers that it is meant to replace, the F-35 is frequently found to be a little lacking in maximum speed, agility, range and payload. The saving grace is that the F-35 more than makes up for all these shortfalls through its superior suite of sensors, avionics, sensor fusion and low observable technology, all of which shall be briefly reviewed below.



F-35 specifications. Source : LMC


Very Low Observable



The F-35 is a fifth generation fighter which, according to its main contractor Lockheed Martin, is defined by the combination of Very Low Observable ( VLO ) stealth, advanced sensors, information fusion and network connectivity within a supersonic, long range and highly maneuverable aircraft.

VLO stealth technology is an integral part of the F-35's design. The clever use of shapes to deflect radar waves, the careful selection of materials that can dissipate radar energy and the internal carriage of weapons, fuel and embedded sensors means that it is much harder for the enemy to detect the F-35. The radar cross section ( RCS ) of the F-35 is the smallest when it is viewed head-on but less so when viewed from the side and even worse when viewed from the rear so it is hardly all-aspect stealth. It is also mainly stealthy in the X-Band, the most common frequency used by fire control radars and less so in other lower frequencies.

As much as it is hyped, stealth is not equivalent to invisibility to radar but rather a significant reduction in the detectability. Any advantage a stealth aircraft has can be undermined by several means including the use of infra-red search and tract technology to detect the heat signature of a stealthy aircraft and through the use of radar operating in frequencies other than the X Band, like L-Band or VHF.

While the level of stealth afforded by the F-35 is not at the same level as that of the F-22 Raptor, it is less costly to maintain as there is less dependency on expensive radar absorbing coating and that is definitely a good thing.


Distributed Aperture System



The electro-optical Distributed Aperture System ( DAS ) is a new generation of sensor system currently only found on the F-35 consisting of six identical high resolution mid-wave infrared ( MWIR ) sensors mounted all around the airframe in such a way as to provide an unobstructed 360 degree coverage for enhanced situational awareness. The DAS sends high resolution augmented reality imagery in real time to the pilot's helmet mounted display allowing them to see their surrounding environment with clarity day or night. It can provide functions including missile detection and tracking, launch point detection and countermeasures cueing, aircraft detection and tracking ( situation awareness IRST and air-to-air weapons cueing ), day and night navigation, and precision tracking of friendly aircraft for tactical maneuvering. Designated the AN/AAQ-37, the DAS is developed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems and has its fair share of teething problems though they have largely been resolved by now. More than a thousand DAS units have been delivered by Northrop Grumman so far, for installation on aircrafts up to and including LRIP Lot 14.

In 2018, Lockheed Martin announced that Raytheon has been selected to develop the next generation DAS which will be expected to have better performance, higher reliability and lower sustainment costs. They will be installed on all Low Rate Initial Production ( LRIP ) Lot 15 aircrafts for delivery in 2023.



Raytheon's next generation DAS. Source : LMC

 
 

Electro-Optical Targeting System

 
 
The AN/AAQ-40 Electro-Optical Targeting System ( EOTS ) is an internally mounted advance MWIR targeting sensor developed by Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Sensors. The EOTS integrates targeting forward looking infrared ( TFLIR ), infrared search and track ( IRST ), laser range finder / designator and laser spot tracker functionalities to provide the F-35 with precision air-to-air and air-to ground targeting capability. The low drag, stealthy EOTS is integrated into the F-35's fuselage ventrally just behind the nose cone with a faceted sapphire window and is linked to the aircraft's central processor by a high-speed fiber-optic interface. Utilizing the mid-wave portion of the IR spectrum provides a sharper image and is less susceptible to target obstruction by smoke or haze.
 
Lockheed Martin has already developed the next generation Advanced EOTS which will provide a range of multi-spectral sensing options including high-resolution mid-wave infrared, short-wave infrared and near infrared. It will have enhanced image detector resolution, high-definition TV and IR marker. The advanced EOTS will  be available for integration on the F-35's Block 4 development and will sharpen the F-35's close air support capabilities.
 
 
 
Source ; F-35 Joint Program Office


The EOTS on a F-35A. Source : LMC

 
EOTS functionalities. Source  LMC


Multi-Mission Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar



The AN/APG-81 active electronically scanned array ( AESA ) radar installed on the F-35 is developed by Northrop Grumman Electronic Systems. It is the next generation version of the AN/APG-77 AESA radar that was first fielded on the F-22A Raptor. It allows the F-35 to engage air and ground targets at long range and also has significant electronic warfare and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance functions. Its solid state technology and elimination of moving parts ensure better reliability compared with mechanically scanned antenna radars. The AN/APG-81 also has inherent low probability of intercept ( LPI ) features to minimize the likelihood of its emissions being usefully detected by enemy airborne or ground based receivers.

The AN/APG-81 is designed to operate as a radar, an electronic support measures ( ESM ) receiver, and a jammer. It has passive and active air-to-air and air-to-surface target detection, track and identification capabilities. It also enables synthetic aperture radar mapping, ground and sea moving target detection and track and air-to-surface ranging. As good as it is, the AN/APG-81 is still lacking a wide field capability in its sea search mode, being able only to seek out a narrow zone in front of it. This deficiency will be rectified in the F-35 Block 4 upgrade being carried out from 2019 to 2024. Together with the integration of partner nation ordnance like Norway's Joint Strike Missile which will also happen during Block 4 upgrades, the maritime strike capabilities of the F-35 will be greatly enhanced.


AN/APG-81 AESA radar. Source : Northrop Grumman



Integrated Communications, Navigation and Identification Avionics



The AN/ASQ-242 integrated communications, navigation and identification ( CNI ) avionics suite developed by Northrop Grumman is designed to provide the F-35 with secure, electronic countermeasures resistant voice and data communications; precise radio-navigation and landing capabilities; self-identification and BVR target identification; and network connectivity with off-board sources of information. All these at a reduction in size, weight and power requirements compared with legacy systems.

The CNI sub-systems includes the Multifunction Advanced Data Link (MADL), Link 16 data link, single-channel ground and airborne radio system (SINCGARS), IFF interrogator and transponder, HAVE QUICK radio, AM, VHF, UHF AM, and UHF FM radio systems, GUARD survival radio, radar altimeter; tactical air navigation (TACAN), inertial navigation system ( INS ), anti-jam GPS, instrument landing system ( ILS ) for conventional runways and aircraft carriers, the Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), and the TADIL-J tactical digital information link with Joint-Variable-Message-Format (JVMF) communications.

The CNI system provides inter-operability with existing legacy military and civilian communications, radio-frequency navigation, and identify friend or foe ( IFF ) / surveillance systems. It is also interoperable with the appropriate civilian systems for US and European airspace operations.


Electronic Warfare / Countermeasures System



The AN/ASQ-239 electronic warfare / countermeasures ( EW/CM ) system developed by BAE is designed to provide the F-35 with a high degree of air-to-air and surface-to-air threat detection and self protection. It can search, detect, identify, locate and counter radio-frequency and infrared threats.

Its advance avionics and sensors enables real time, all aspect, broad-band coverage of the battlefield, maximizing detection ranges and giving the F-35 pilots evasion, engagement, countermeasure or jamming options. In other words it allows the F-35 to dominate the electromagnetic spectrum.

The EW subsystem serves as a signals collector which provides radar warning, identifies the geolocation of electronic emitters, tracks multiple aircrafts simultaneously, provides high gain electronic support measures ( ESM ), high gain electronic countermeasures ( ECM ) and high gain electronic attack via the AN/APG-81 radar's multifunction array.

The countermeasures subsystem provides multiple self-defense responses, including pre-emptive and reactive techniques, based on available expendable payload ( MJU-61/64/68/69 IRCM flares and ALE-70 RFCM fiber-optic towed decoys ) and threat-specific self-protection plans.

Lockheed Martin claims that due to the inherent, built-in electronic warfare capabilities the F-35 does not require a dedicated electronic attack aircraft to support it. That could potentially free up other aircraft to perform electronic attack missions to protect less stealthy aircraft. This organic jamming capability of the F-35 through its AESA radar, teamed with advanced jamming algorithm packages, can potentially provide 10 times the jamming power of legacy aircraft.



Various elements of the AN/ASQ-239
Source : LMC



The F-35's T-1687/ALE-70(V) fiber-optic towed decoy
works similarly to the F/A-18's AN/ALE-55 shown above.
Source : BAE Systems


Sensor Fusion



The F-35's advanced sensor fusion allow pilots to harness information received from all their onboard sensors to create a single integrated picture of the battlefield. Such information is then automatically shared with other pilots and command and control operating centers on their network via a secure datalink such as the Multifunction Advanced Data Link ( MADL ).


Helmet Mounted Display System



The F-35's Gen III Helmet Mounted Display System ( HMDS ) is an interface that provides pilots with intuitive access to vast quantities of flight, tactical and sensor information for advanced situational awareness, safety and precision. All the information that the pilots need to complete their mission is projected onto the helmet visor rather than on a traditional Heads-up Display. It reduces the pilot's workload and increases responsiveness. In addition, real-time imagery from the DAS's six IR cameras streamed to the helmet allows the pilot to virtually look through the airframe providing the equivalent of x-ray vision. The HMDS enables pilots to target weapons by looking at and designating targets. It does so by tracking the position of the helmet to determine the gaze of the pilot and supplies information such as target identity and distance. This off-boresight targeting capability is especially useful when used in combination with modern all-aspect air-to-air missiles like the AIM-9X. The helmet also offers visor-projected night vision and eliminates the separate use of night vision goggles.

All these functionality comes at a price though. The F-35's super helmet costs a whopping $400000 and has to be custom made for each aviator to ensure a precise fit for the tracking system to work accurately. Rockwell Collins, the maker of the helmet, estimated that every F-35 on order will need 2.5 to 3 helmets over their service life due to wear and tear, damage and pilot attrition and replacement.


F-35 Helmet. Source : USAF


Auto Ground Collision Avoidance System



Work done on the F-16's auto ground collision avoidance system ( AGCAS ) has enabled fielding of this revolutionary flight safety system on the F-35 seven years earlier than originally scheduled. The AGCAS integration could have began as early as 2019 and has been estimated to prevent more than 26 ground collisions over the service life of the F-35.



Autonomic Logistic Information System


The Autonomic Logistic Information System ( ALIS ) of the F-35's fleet managing system is the web enabled IT infrastructure that was meant to support cost effective sustainment throughout the life time of the aircraft. It however did not live up to expectations and has been blamed for, among other things, the F-35's poor mission capability rates in the past. It will be replaced by a new system known as Operational Data Integrated Network ( ODIN ) starting from late 2020 which it is hoped will be more user-friendly, secure and less prone to error. Full implementation will be expected by 2022.

 


Core Missions



Armed with such a dazzling array of advanced sensors and capabilities, the multi-role F-35 can be tasked to perform the following missions :

Air superiority - offensive and defensive counterair
Strategic attack / Air Interdiction against high value strategic and mobile targets
Close air support
Suppression / destruction of enemy air defense
Electronic Warfare
Intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
Extended surface warfare - maritime strike  ( with future F-35 Block 4 upgrades )

 
 
F-35 releasing JSM from its internal weapon bay
during maritime interdiction. Illustration : Kongsberg



Singapore's Cautious Buy



The F-35 has come a long way since the commencement of the JSF program in 2001. All three variants have achieved initial operational capability ( IOC ), with the F-35B of the Marine Corps first to do so in 2015 with Block 2B software which allows for initial warfighting capability. It was followed by the USAF's declaration of IOC for the F-35A in 2016 with the Block 3i software and lastly the USN for the F-35C with the Block 3F full warfighting capability software by Feb 2019. The long drawn system development and demonstration ( SDD ) phase has concluded in April 2018 and a new phase known as Initial Operational Test And Evaluation ( IOT&E ) has began. The successful conclusion of the IOT&E, initially due in Jul 2019 but currently delayed by problems relating to the Joint Simulation Environment facility, will pave the way for the commencement of full rate production ( FRP ).

Production numbers are peaking with a record number of 134 F-35s delivered in 2019 and that figure is expected to be surpassed in 2020. The combined all variants production numbers have reach 491 aircrafts by December 2019. The unit cost of all variants have continued to fall for the past few years and the latest LRIP Lot 14 F-35B for delivery in 2022 has a unit cost of S101.3 million, significantly lower than the LRIP Lot 11's $115.5 million or the LRIP Lot 10's $122.4 million. With the latest LRIP Lot 12 to Lot 14 F-35A CTOL variant Lockheed Martin even managed to lower the unit cost to their promised less than $80 million target, a year ahead of schedule.




Yet the F-35 has still not ironed out all its teething problems, though it probably will in time to come. Also, although unit prices have steadily fallen, operating costs have not. At between $34000 to $36000 per hour, the F-35 cost significantly more to operate compared with the legacy aircrafts it was meant to replace, like the F-16 ( $24000 per hour ) or F/A-18 ( $24400 per hour ). The fatal crash of a F-35A of the Japan Air Self Defense Force in April 2019 would have added uncertainties to its air worthiness and safety record but it was eventually attributed to spatial disorientation of the pilot. The event nonetheless delayed Singapore's decision making process to buy the F-35. It is therefore not surprising that the Singapore government only committed itself to an initial four aircraft purchase, with an option for eight more. It is not even enough to form half a squadron, and as declared the initial four aircrafts will be used for tests and evaluation. It will be crucial to find out, among other things, if the Pratt & Whitney F135 engine can actually produce enough vertical thrust in the typically hot and humid environment of Singapore to allow for hovering and vertical landing of a laden F-35B.


 

STOVL Above Stealth



Singapore's selection of the F-35B demonstrates that above all, it values the STOVL capability and the basing flexibility and operational flexibility it brings. If stealth and sensor fusion were its main focus, it would have chosen the F-35A CTOL variant like most other non-US operators of the F-35. It is even willing to trade physical attributes like range, payload and agility for the inclusion of STOVL, which in retrospect makes a lot of sense. The greatest strength of the F-35 is not about its absolute speed, rate of climb, range on internal fuel, sustained turn rate, maximum payload or maximum g-rating. Many legacy 4th generation fighters do better on those parameters. The real value of the F-35 is its survivability in an access denied high threat environment and its superior networking capability thanks to its VLO technology, all-encompassing sensors, organic self-protection mechanisms and connectivity. The planned closure of the Paya Lebar Air Base after 2030 will have the Republic of Singapore Air Force operating out of its three other remaining air bases, Sembawang, Tengah and Changi. That makes the adoption of STOVL capabilities very sensible as it can mitigate some of the risks of air operations disruption from airfield denial attacks.

In the United States, the F-35B has not only changed the way which the Marine Corps' Amphibious Ready Groups conduct their missions, it has given them new blue-water capabilities in the absence of a carrier nearby. The LHAs and LHDs have suddenly turned into mini-carriers in their own right and find themselves taking on missions normally assigned to carrier strike groups. These are mind boggling stuff that was just impossible a few years ago.




Mini carrier : USS America ( LHA-6 ) staged with 13 F-35B
of the VMFA-122 in the eastern Pacific 8th Oct 2019.
Photo : USN




What Happens Next



The Department of State has in principle given the green light for Singapore to acquire up to 12 F-35B fighters but Congress must still approve the deal. Congress was formally notified of the proposed sale on 9th Jan 2020 and has 30 days to review it before it is approved. Given the good bilateral relations between Singapore and the US and the fact that Singapore is a strategic friend and a major security cooperation partner of the US in the Asia Pacific region, the Congressional Note, a necessary FMS formality, will likely be approved without issues. With Congressional approval, final terms will be negotiated for the Letter of Offer and Acceptance.

Singapore may have deliberately timed its F-35 purchase to coincide with the end of LRIP and the beginning of full-rate production. Since current LRIP Lot 12 to Lot 14 for delivery between 2020 and 2022 are likely to have been fully allocated, the assembly of Singapore's initial four F-35B could be assigned to later production lots like LRIP Lot 15 / FRP. Whichever production lot they come from, Singapore is likely to receive the F-35B Block 4 with the latest software upgrades and enhanced warfighting capaibities.

All four initial F-35B are likely to end up at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort in South Carolina where all international F-35B pilots and maintainers are trained. They will form a training detachment where the first batches of RSAF pilots and ground personnel will undergo training with their USMC counterparts from the Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 ( VMFAT-501 )  and other foreign entities from the UK, Italy and Japan.

Only when sufficient numbers of F-35Bs have been procured, such as when the addition option of eight F-35B have been exercised and sufficient pilots and maintainers trained will some of these new generation fighters be brought back to Singapore for integration with the rest of the Air Force. What follows will be the achievement of IOC and FOC.

The RSAF already has some of the assets and capabilities that will be essential for supporting 5th generation fighter operations, such as the Leonardo M-346 lead-in fighter trainer for pilot training prior to F-35 operational conversion and the Airbus A-330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport ( MRTT ) for aerial refueling during deployments. It is worthwhile to note that the F-35B ultilises the probe-and-drogue method for aerial refueling similar to all other USN and USMC fixed wing aircrafts, instead of the flying boom method common to USAF tactical fighters, including the F-35A. So apart from the MRTT, perhaps the refueling capabilities of the RSAF's ageing KC-130B and KC-130H might again be put to good use, provided they are still in service in the 2030s!




F-35B of VMFA-121 refuels from a KC-130J
over the East China Sea Oct 2018. Photo : USN
 
 
F-35B refueling from KC-130J near MCAS Beaufort
18th Mar 2015. Photo LMC


Sending A Message To China?



Hardly. The news media had it all wrong. While nobody apart from totalitarian and despotic regimes loves China, it does not mean that Singapore's F-35 buy is directed at China, or any other country for that matter, as the Ministry of Defence has claimed. This is especially true as Singapore does not have any territorial disputes with China and China is also one of Singapore's largest trading partners. But it does have a vested interest in ensuring its sea lines of communication remains secure and open so that trade flows are not disrupted.

The notion that Singapore can work together with the other F-35 operating countries in the Asia Pacific, namely Australia, Japan and South Korea, to contain China is also without merit. Why would Singapore want to get involved with the squabbles between China and each of these countries? Has it not had enough of its own problems?

Therefore this F-35 acquisition is just another routine force renewal exercise aimed at replacing the ageing F-16 fighters which have been in service with the RSAF since 1998. Nobody should really read too much into it or worry about it .... at least until the Joint Multi-Mission Ship is constructed.




F-35B performs ramp-assisted take-off onboard
HMS QEII in Nov 2018. Photo : USN





















Thursday 11 August 2016

No F-35 For Singapore ... For Now .. And What's The Deal With Guam?




F-35B of the 501st Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron ( VMFAT-501 ),
 MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina.
Photo taken on 19th Mar 2015 Lockheed Martin  



State Dinner : What's On The Menu?



At the invitation of the President of the United States Barack Obama, Prime Minister of the Republic of Singapore Lee Hsien Loong made an official visit to the US to celebrate 50 years of diplomatic relations and to further enhance the bilateral strategic partnership that the two countries had enjoyed so far. The state visit had taken place from 31 July to 5th August 2016. The two leaders had many things to discuss, from boosting trade and commerce links to strengthening people-to-people ties through exchange scholarships and implementation of trusted traveler programs, addressing regional and global challenges including climate change, global terrorism, freedom of navigation, and last but not least, enhancing security and defense cooperation.



Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong and President Obama at the White House
 2nd Aug 2016. Photo : US Embassy



A state dinner at the White House was also hosted in Singapore's honor on 2nd Aug 2016, the 11th so far by the Obama Administration in his eight years in office. Singapore was the fifth Asian country to receive this honor, after India, China, Japan and South Korea. During the black tie event attended by 200 prominent guests including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Defense Ash Carter. PM Lee returned the honor by unveiling a Singapore cultivated orchid hybrid named after the US President and the First Lady, Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama, to mark the 50th anniversary of bilateral relations. It is a cross between a hybrid native to Hawaii where Mr. Obama was born, the D. Pink Lips, and a Singapore hybrid known as D. Sunplaza Park.


The Dendrobium Barack and Michelle Obama
( D. Pink Lips x D. Sun Plaza )
 is a robust and free flowering orchid hybrid named in the honor of
the POTUS and the First Lady celebrating 50 years of
bilateral relations between the US and Singapore.
Photo : MCI via Straits Times


With bilateral ties at an all time high, as they should be, and knowing that Singapore has been interested in the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the longest time yet is always in no hurry to make the final decision, the question that many will ask is, was the F-35 on the State Dinner menu? Could a possible F-35 foreign military sale ( FMS ) to Singapore be Obama's last hurrah in his lame duck period?

As usual, some background information to provide the reader with the right perspective is always appropriate.



State Dinner Menu 2nd Aug 2016 :
Maryland Blue Crab, American Wagyu Beef, Local Tomato Salad
and Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter?!
Original Image Singapore Embassy in Washington DC





US and Singapore : 50 Years of Diplomatic Relations And More




Fifty one years ago, on 9th Aug 1965, the tiny South East Asian nation of Singapore was born in anguish, having been unceremoniously kicked out of the Federation of Malaysia like an unwanted child. Before that, it had been a British crown colony since 1819, until it achieved self-governance in 1959 and subsequently joined the Malaysian Federation in 1963.

As a small island nation without natural resources and at that time surrounded by potentially hostile neighbours, Singapore needed friends, and fast. Friends whom it could learn from, trade with, garner political support and who could lend a helping hand when it was needed. It was a matter of survival.

And among the first few countries to recognize Singapore as a sovereign country after it declared its independence from the Federation of Malaysia was the good old United States of America under the leadership of President Lyndon B. Johnson. Official recognition came on 11th Aug 1965 in a letter from Secretary of State Dean Rusk to Singaporean Foreign Minister Sinnathamby Rajaratnam, essentially the day after independence, taking into consideration that the US lies across the International Date Line on the other side of the Pacific.

The establishment of diplomatic relations and the American embassy came the following year, on 4th April 1966, with Richard H Donald as Chargé d’Affaires ad interim. The rest that followed, was half a century of ever deepening friendship and thrust, of mutual understanding, respect and admiration.


US - Singapore Diplomatic Relations 50th Anniversary. Source : US Embassy


Informal relations between the United States and Singapore had began even earlier, way back in the 19th century when US merchants engaged in the China trade began to visit the port on their way to and from China. As Singapore became one of the most important ports in the region, US-Singaporean interaction increased and the first American representative to Singapore, Joseph Balestier ( 1788 - 1858 ) was appointed on 4th July 1836 when the US established a consulate. He was a merchant and plantation owner whose wife Maria was the daughter of Paul Revere, silversmith, industrialist and Patriot in the American Revolution of the midnight ride fame. Their legacy endures in Singapore today, with an entire neighborhood, a high school and road named after Balestier. A beautiful church bell made in the foundry of her father was donated by Maria Balestier to the St Andrew's Church once signaled the evening curfew now rests in the Singapore History Gallery of the National Museum. It is the only Revere bell outside the United States.


The Revere Bell at the National Museum of Singapore.
Inscription reads : Revere, Boston 1843.
Presented to St Andrew's Church, Singapore,
by Mrs Maria Revere Balestier of Boston,
United States of America. Photo : Wikipedia

 
Today, the US is the biggest source of foreign direct investment in Singapore. Over 3700 US companies are located in Singapore and a growing number of Singapore companies are establishing themselves in the US. The US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, the first such US agreement in Asia and now in its twelve year is a reference agreement that has shaped subsequent bilateral and multilateral FTAs in the region, including the high profile Trans-Pacific Partnership ( TPP ). Students from both countries study at each other's schools from elementary to post-graduate levels and beyond. The Singapore Armed Forces stations and trains approximately 1000 of its personnel annually in the US. Similarly, the US regularly deploys aircrafts and ships on a rotational basis to Singapore, contributing to the stability of the Asian Pacific region.  

 

The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter Program



The US$379 billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter ( JSF ) program is without doubt the world's most expensive weapons program. It aims to produce a 5th generation multirole stealth fighter in three variants to replace a whole host of legacy fighters and attack aircrafts in the United States Air Force ( USAF ), United States Navy ( USN ), the United States Marine Corps ( USMC ) and some of its closest allies. The program's international partners includes the UK, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Norway and Turkey. Israel and Singapore are Security Cooperative Participants.

Apart from the United States, the F-35 to date has orders from eleven countries, including eight international partners and three foreign military sales to Israel, Japan and South Korea.




JSF Logo. Lockheed Martin.



The JSF program was highly controversial due to the multiple setbacks it encountered during its development, long delays and huge cost overruns. Early adopters saw the unit cost increase from an initial estimate of US$50 million per aircraft to more than $150 million, causing some to cut procurement numbers or postpone their purchase, which in turn leads to more upward pressure for the unit price. It is therefore the interest of the US as well as the F-35's vendor, Lockheed Martin, to secure as many orders as possible in order to bring down the unit cost of the volume production F-35 to a targeted $85 million by 2019.

This can be achieved by enticing the early adopters to exercise their options for additional aircrafts, place follow-on orders ( like Israel ), and by convincing those potential customers who are still undecided to finally take the plunge ( like Singapore ). The best way to do it is to demonstrate that the F-35 works as or better than advertised and ironically, a drastic price cut itself!

So did Obama attempt to get Singapore to commit itself to a squadron of F-35s? I'm sure he did. I would if I were Obama. After all, the Americans really have nothing to lose by asking and a whole lot to gain if Singapore had said yes.

Listed below are some of the reasons why the time might now be mostly right for Singapore to finally own a couple of these stealth fighters.



The Only Western Stealth Fighter In Production



With the production of the F-22 Raptor permanently shutdown, the reality is that the F-35 currently is the only stealth fighter in production and available for export in the Western World. The F-22 was never cleared for export to any country, ever. So, unless you are a partner in Russia's PAK-FA stealth fighter program like India or are researching your own design like Japan and its Mitsubishi X-2 technological demonstrator, or plan to wait for China's FC-31 to be made available for export, you really have no other stealthy options apart from the A, B and C variants of the F-35. Like they say, simple as ABC.

How to tell them apart physically? The F-35A conventional take-off and landing ( CTOL ) version for the USAF has a bulge over the left upper fuselage from its internal 25mm Gatling gun and a boom receptacle for aerial refueling at its dorsal area, two unique features which the other versions lack. The F-35B short take-off and vertical landing ( STOVL ) version for the USMC meanwhile has a bulge behind the canopy to house the huge lift fan which also has distinctive panel lines. The F-35C catapult assisted take-off barrier arrested recovery ( CATOBAR ) version for the USN has a wingspan 8 feet longer than the other versions, a tailhook assembly and a double wheeled forward landing gear.


From left to right the C, B and A variants of the F-35 JSF at Edwards AFB,
California. Photo taken on 28th Feb 2014 Lockheed Martin




Security Cooperative Participant Forever? 



On 16th Mar 2004 Singapore signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance ( LOA ) to become a Security Cooperative Participant ( SCP ) of the System Development and Demonstration Phase ( SDD ) of the JSF Program, the only Asian country to do so. It followed the signing of a Letter of Intent in Feb 2003 which laid down the broad principles for the SCP arrangement. And that seems like a looooong time ago, at least by aircraft standards. For $10 million, being a SCP allows a country to be able to have early access to proprietary information, including flight simulators. It allows early evaluation of the ability of the F-35 to meet the country's long term operational requirements for a stealth fighter. The SCP member country will have insights into the JSF’s development progress and be able to conduct studies for integration of its requirements into the JSF. It will also have the privilege of requesting for early purchase of the F-35 with deliveries from 2012 onwards. Of course those dates slipped badly and many partner countries are just beginning to receive their first F-35 this year. Now one wouldn't spend that kind of money unless seriously interested in the aircraft in question, right? The only other SCP of the JSF Program, Israel, had already put in an initial order for 33 F-35I Adir and possibly a follow-on order of another 17. If it is good enough for the Israeli Defense Force ( IDF ), it is good enough for the Singapore Armed Forces ( SAF ) ... well not exactly, but the two countries do have a long history of military cooperation and share many similar platforms and systems. That said, endorsement by the IDF does carry weight, in fact a lot of weight. The SAF had more than twelve years to do due diligence as a SCP, and SDD Phase which started in 2001 and originally projected to last for 10 years is already in its final stages and scheduled to end in 2017. Time to make a decision.



Roll out of the Israeli Air Force's first F-35I Adir ( CTOL ) at LM's
Fort Worth facilities 22nd Jun 2016. In the cockpit is Israel's
Minister for Defense Avigdor Liberman who could not stop grinning!
 Photo : Lockheed Martin



Maintaining Qualitative Lead



Singapore being a land scarce and resource poor country without any strategic depth has always looked to a doctrine of maintaining a qualitative edge against its regional peers to overcome these inherent disadvantages. Over the past few decades, the RSAF has seen its traditional lead over its rivals shrink dramatically with the introduction of Russian Su-27 / Su-30 Flanker family multirole fighters in the region. Both Indonesia and Malaysia have been operating these lethal fighters for several years. In addition, Indonesia is in advance negotiation with Russia to acquire eight Su-35 Super Flankers. Further away, both Vietnam and China have large Flanker fleets, with China already committed to buying 24 Su-35 with the first 4 deliveries expected this year. The RSAF's F-16C/D and F-15SG will find it challenging to match the superior performance of these advance Flankers. Hence, the impending introduction of the all new Su-35 as well as the continued threats from existing Flanker types might just be the catalyst to induce Singapore to finally stop mulling about the F-35 and actually buy it.




The Sukhoi Su-35S Super Flanker of the Russian Air Force.
Credit on Photo.




The Su-35 could carry a total of twelve air-to-air missiles.
The aft centerline pylon is empty in this photo. Credit on Image.



New Capability : Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing



Whoever said that the F-35 acquisition had to be a replacement for an obsolete aircraft type? Of course ageing aircrafts have to be replaced in a timely manner so as to avoid any possible capability gaps from occurring during the transition. Right now the 27 F-5S and 9 F5Ts already have their days numbered. But how about getting a squadron of the short take-off and vertical landing ( STOVL ) F-35B as a new capability for the RSAF? The F-35B is currently the only modern fighter aircraft in production that has STOVL capabilities.

The proliferation of advance long range saturation rocket artillery systems like the Avibras ASTROS II within the regional armies of Malaysia and now Indonesia meant that there could always be a threat that Singapore's airbases and runways could be targeted from outside its boundaries during outbreaks of hostilities. Having even a small number of STOVL capable fighters dispersed in various well concealed locations will ensure at least some aerial defense and retaliatory options while runway operations are temporarily disrupted.

In addition, should the Navy eventually replace its four Endurance-class Landing Platform Dock with the Joint Multi-Mission Vessel ( JMMS ) which is essentially a helicopter carrier, it would not be inconceivable to build them large enough to accommodate the F-35B, although it could be at the expense of a reduced shore projection capability. That would provide serious close air support to any amphibious landing force and top cover for the naval task force.



F-35B performing a vertical landing during Developmental Test Phase II
 onboard USS Wasp on 15th Aug 2013. Photo : Lockheed Martin

 
 
F-35B performing a short take-off during Developmental Test Phase II
 onboard USS Wasp on 15th Aug 2013. Photo : Lockheed Martin



The F-35 Program Has Matured



As a whole, the F-35 Program has made significant progress especially in the past few years. Although still far from complete, many milestones have been achieved. But the ultimate milestone would be the attainment of the Initial Operational Capability ( IOC ). The F-35B of the USMC was the first to declare operational on 31st Jul 2015. Slightly more than a week ago on 2nd Aug 2016, the USAF also declared that the F-35A is combat ready. We are now left with the Navy's F-35C which will be projected to achieve IOC sometime between Aug 2018 and Feb 2019.

Since nobody except the US intends to buy the F-35C, as far as export customers are concerned, the F-35 can be considered combat ready.

Singapore's Minister for Defense Dr Ng Eng Hen had expressed satisfaction that the JSF Program is progressing well when he visited the F-35 Academic Training Center at Luke Air Force Base and received a briefing on the F-35's capabilities from the 61st Fighter Squadron in Dec 2015. Over the years, he had witnessed the hangars at the air base gradually fill up with F-35 fighters. He could also see the F-35 chalking up on sortie numbers and flight hours. From Dec 2006 to May 2016, the F-35 fleet has a combined total of nearly 60000 flight hours. By Oct 2015, 162 F-35s had been delivered to the Department of Defense ( DOD ), inclusive of the 20 SDD test aircrafts. Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth facility is now churning out Low Rate Initial Production ( LRIP ) Lot 8 aircrafts. There will be at least another three lots of LRIP till Lot 11. The more mature a program is, the less risk it would present to the countries who are adopting it. So the JSF program has more or less matured, though eight years later than initially projected.



Four F-35B and two F-35C ( rear ) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River,
 Maryland. Photo taken on 18th Feb 2012 Lockheed Martin.



The Unit Cost Is Dropping



After years of runaway escalation, the trend had finally reversed and unit cost of all three variants of the F-35 continues to drop a little year by year as Lockheed Martin has been able to reduce the number of labour hours required to produce an F-35 from 153000 hours per aircraft in 2011 down to 50000 hours by mid-2015, all thanks to efficiency gains and process improvements ( see photo of the EMAS below ). As a result, the unit cost of the cheapest and most commonly procured F-35A variant could fall to $80 to $85 million for an F-35 ordered in 2018 and delivered in 2020. At this price, the F-35A could even be cheaper than modernized versions of some high end legacy fighters. For comparison, Lockheed Martin's own F-16 V Viper is estimated to cost $60 million per copy, while Boeing's F-15SE Silent Eagle which has some stealth features like radar absorbent coating and conformal weapon bays can cost more than $120 million. Singapore's initial tranche of 12 F-15SG, ordered in Dec 2005, was estimated to cost about $1 billion. So the unit cost could be about $83 million or more, and that was more than a decade ago. A full-rate production Eurofighter Typhoon costs $119 million, the Rafale-B $98 million, the F/A-18E Super Hornet Block II $78 million and even the SAAB JAS-39C Gripen ( no AESA radar ) cost $69 million.

For FY2016 though, the unit cost of F-35A is $109.88 million, the F-35B at $121.33 million and the F-35C at $117.83 million, already on par with the F-15SE.



The Netherland's F-35A being lifted from the automated
Electronic Mate And Assembly System or EMAS.
Photo taken 9th Apr 2015 Lockheed Martin




The RSAF's M-346 Trainers Are F-35-Proofed



The twelve Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master lead-in to fighter trainers of the RSAF's 150 Squadron acquired in 2012 are specifically designed for helping trainee pilots transit from advance jet trainers to operational conversion with 5th generation jets like the F-35. They can simulate the flight characteristics of the F-35 and can even be used as companion trainers to reduce the need for pilots to fly the F-35 to maintain their combat readiness. They are F-35 and future-proofed. Their earlier acquisition fits into the grand scheme of possible F-35 buys down the road.



Singapore's Continued Interest In The F-35 Welcomed



In the joint statement released by the governments of the United States and Singapore after the meeting at the Oval Office between President Obama and PM Lee, it was mentioned that " President Obama welcomed Singapore’s continued interest in the F-35 aircraft. The two leaders expressed support to explore new training opportunities for the Singapore Armed Forces in Guam, with an eye toward a potential long-term training detachment for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. "

Since the late eighties, long term training detachments of the RSAF to the United States had always been associated with a Foreign Military Sale of some major platform, like the F-16 and the Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke Air Force Base ( AFB ), the F-15SG and the Peace Carvin V detachment to Mountain Home AFB, the CH-47D and the Peace Prairie detachment to Redmond Taylor Army Heliport ( AHP ), and the AH-64D and the Peace Vanguard detachment to Silverbell AHP. So is Singapore about to make another major arms acquisition?

Perhaps but it might not be what you are thinking about. There are currently three major training centers for the F-35, Eglin AFB in Florida where the Integrated Training Center trains F-35 pilots and maintainers, Luke AFB in Arizona and MCAS Beaufort in South Carolina. All foreign ( and many US ) pilots of the F-35A are currently being trained at Luke AFB where 6 squadrons ( 144 aircrafts ) of F-35As comprising a mix of USAF and pooled FMS assets will eventually be available. F-35B pilots are trained at Marine Corps Air Station ( MCAS ) Beaufort, home of Marine Fighter Attack Training Squadron 501 ( VMFAT-501 ). This is also where UK and Italian F-35B pilots would receive their training.

Depending on the variant selected, a F-35A buy would probably mean another Peace detachment to Luke AFB while a F-35B buy would necessitate a detachment to MCAS Beaufort. There ain't no F-35 simulators on Guam!

Therefore, we know for sure that the F-35 was part of the agenda of that meeting, otherwise it would not have been referred to in the joint statement. Obama must have asked Singapore to consider buying the F-35, again. Unfortunately, despite the favourable factors for the F-35, the answer was no .... for now. Hence, the statement about continued interest.

Indeed, a news report by Bloomberg two days ago said that in Dec 2014 Singapore had submitted a letter of request to the US formally seeking information on the purchase of the F-35. It then followed up in early 2015 with indications that it wanted the STOVL F-35B variant, the most complicated model. The initial acquisition was intended to be for four aircrafts by 2022 with options for another 8 more. Earlier this year, the US even gave the approval for Singapore to integrate its own radio and datalink into the aircraft should it be purchased. However, for reasons yet not known, Singapore had informed the US in June this year that the purchase was now on hold.

You can see here what IHS Jane's had to say in this video published on 8th Aug 2016 on the F-35 and Singapore. The hovering / vertical landing F-35B seen at MCAS Beaufort has a RAF roundel and belongs to the UK, a first tier partner in the JSF Program. Some nice clips of the F-15SG and F-16C are included. The narration department has much to be desired, though.






Where In The World Is Guam?






Guam is a US Territory in the Northwestern Pacific.




Guam is the biggest island and the southernmost of the Marianas which also includes
Saipan and Tinian, all famous battlegrounds in the Pacific War.
The B-29 that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima launched from Tinian.




Guam is an American territory located in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. It is the largest and the southernmost of the Marianas Islands. Its strategic value lies in the fact that it is a US owned territory midway between Hawaii and Asia and therefore an important forward deployment, transit and logistic hub for the USAF and the USN, playing a key role in Obama's Rebalance to Asia. It has two major military bases - Naval Base Guam and Andersen Air Force Base, now managed together as Joint Region Marianas.



Joint Region Marianas Logo from its Twitter site.






Naval Base Guam at Apra Harbor, Santa Rita is the home of Submarine Squadron 15 made up of several Los Angeles-class nuclear attack submarines. It is also the home port of many Pacific Fleet units and US Coast Guard units.

Andersen AFB on the other hand, is one of four bomber forward operating locations of the USAF, providing support to rotating forward deployed strategic bombers like the Boeing B-52H. Proximity to the naval bombing range at Farallon de Medinilla Island 296km north of Andersen and the vastness of the surrounding air space makes Guam an ideal training place for these huge aircrafts.

Beginning 2019, Guam will be receiving some 5000 marines and 1300 of their family members relocated from Okinawa, where the Okinawans had found them burdensome. The build up will continue to 2026. Only a third will be permanently based there while the rest will train there on a rotational and staggered basis. Many will be housed around the vicinity of Andersen AFB where some of the training ranges are also located.



B-52G of the 60th Bombardment Sqn, 43rd Strategic Wing dropping 500lb Mk82
high-drag bombs at the Farallon de Medinilla Island Bombing Range during
Ex Harvest Coconut 3rd Dec 1984. Photo USAF via Wikipedia

 
 
B-2 Spirit from Whiteman AFB deploy to Andersen AFB during
Ex Polar Lightning 12th Mar 2009. USAF Photo.

 
 
 
F/A-18D takes off at Andersen AFB with B-52H in the background
during Ex Valiant Shield 14th Sep 2014. USN Photo.



Aerial view of Apra Harbor where US Naval Base Guam is located
5th Mar 2016. Several warships can be seen berthed in the foreground. USN Photo. 



So What's The Deal With Guam?



The proposed long term training detachment of the RSAF to Guam probably has nothing to do with FMS this time. Its not the F-35 for sure. Its not the P-8 as the detachment should have gone to Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, otherwise. I believe the motive for the detachment to Guam is far more mundane. It is most likely a relocation of the Peace Carvin II F-16 detachment at Luke AFB to a venue closer to Singapore.




The tail flash of a RSAF F-16 of the 425th Fighter Squadron marking the
20th anniversary of the Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke AFB,
28th Oct 2013. USAF Photo.


The Peace Carvin II detachment to Luke AFB was Singapore's first permanent training detachment to the US. It started in 1993 and marked its 20th anniversary in 2013. It is also Singapore's longest running foreign military training detachment. The contract for the program had been renewed several times and unless further renewed will expire in 2018.

With the F-16 gradually becoming obsolete and Luke AFB slowly transiting to become the premier F-35A training base just like it did with the F-16 35 years ago, it might not make a lot of sen$e to extend the Peace Carvin II program further. Even if Singapore had requested for an extension, the US may not necessary grant it this time as they focus on ramping up F-35A numbers and training at Luke AFB.



The Peace Carvin II Patch : Saguaro ( AZ ) and Blackwidow ( 425th ).




Bringing home the F-16 squadron doesn't sound appealing as Singapore lacks the air space for these fast jets to train and maneuver. Relocating the squadron to a USAF base somewhere else would be a better idea, since the F-16 pilots will continue to benefit from the training and exposure, especially with regards to large scale multi-national exercises like Ex Valiant Shield.

And when you look at the map, the nearest US air base to Singapore is Andersen AFB in Guam. Basing the F-16 in Guam has advantages apart from the vastness of the airspace and the proximity of the naval bombing range. The logistics will be easier and cheaper to handle and the aircrafts could be recalled back to Singapore much faster should the need ever arise. Andersen AFB is 4717km from Paya Lebar Air Base in Singapore which is just slightly more than the maximum ferry range of a Block 50/52 F-16 with external drop tanks. This distance is still far but much less formidable compared with the distance to the US.

We often forget how BIG the Pacific Ocean is and how far it is from America to Asia. From Andersen AFB to Hickham AFB in Hawaii is 6096km. Hickham to Luke AFB is another 4663km. The great circle distance from Paya Lebar Air Base to Luke AFB is 14606km. A previous recall exercise saw the F-16s hopping from one AFB to another across the Pacific, requiring six aerial refueling and six full days to complete the journey.


Geographical location of Guam and Singapore.


The 250 RSAF personnel and their family members of the training detachment hopefully will not be too much of a burden to the increasingly congested Guam Island as the Marines move in from Okinawa. But one thing is for sure. It will be a mini boost to the local economy for years to come, just like what the SAF brought to the Australian township of Rockhampton with its training at Shoalwater Bay, Queensland. Luke's loss will be Guam's gain.



B-1, B-52 and probably KC-135 at Andersen AFB 28th Feb 2006




C-5 Galaxy, B-2 Spirit and B-1 Lancer at Andersen AFB. 7th Jun 2006




Left to right Mitsubishi F-2 ( I think ), F-15, F-16 Aggressors, F-16 and probably EA-6B
plus E-2C, C-130 ( top ) and KC-135 ( bottom ) at Andersen AFB 18th Feb 2011




Hordes of B-52H at Andersen AFB 19th Jan 2016




Sun, Sand and Surf : Andersen AFB and Yigo Town. 7th Jun 2016




Sorry No Lame Duck F-35



It has been said by Mr Lee Hsien Loong during his state dinner toast remarks that much could be achieved even by lame duck presidents during their final months in office, like Bill Clinton and the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement, signed after a midnight round of golf with then Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on a rainy night in Brunei during an APEC summit. For President Obama though, there will be no F-35 sale to Singapore for now to add to his legacy as the first black president of the United States. That honor will probably go to the next president, hopefully not Mr. Donald Duck who may be just lame from day one.

Indonesia and Malaysia would probably breathe sighs of relief knowing that Singapore had postponed the F-35 acquisition. But the delay will only be as long as needed. The restrain will go should more Flankers or advance air defense systems populate the region.  


 
 
POTUS Barack Obama giving a speech on 3rd Aug 2016. Photo : US Embassy 



President Obama and PM Lee on 4th Aug 2016, Obama's birthday.
Photo : US Embassy