Paul Lewis/SINGAPORE
Singapore is conducting talks with the US Department of Defense (DoD) on participating in the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme as an observer, in a further sign of increasingly close defence co-operation between the two nations.
The Singapore Ministry of Defence is understood to be discussing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with its US counterpart, which would open the way for the island to join the JSF programme as an "informed customer". Talks are focused on the US Government's $10 million entry fee, which Singapore wants to reduce, say sources.
The JSF programme is already part of the way through a 51-month concept demonstration phase, which will culminate in the final selection by early 2001 of a winning design. Boeing and Lockheed Martin were shortlisted in November 1996 for each to produce two demonstrators, designated the X-32 and X-35, respectively.
As an informed customer, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) would be given access to 90% of the data on the programme, which would allow it to evaluate the JSF against future requirements. As an observer, however, Singapore would not be given key stealth information or have the power to influence the fighter's design.
In an interview with Flight International, Singapore's chief of defence forces, Lt Gen Bey Soo Khiang, says that the JSF, as a possible future replacement for the Lockheed Martin F-16, is "-something we should be interested in". The RSAF has a total of 49 F-16s in service or on order.
Signature of the MoU would make Singapore the first Asian country to join the JSF programme. Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have already become informed customers, Italy is in negotiation over joining and Australia has been briefed on the programme. A defence observer notes that JSF admission would elevate the status of Singapore "head and shoulders" above that of its South East Asian neighbours.
Washington and Singapore have been cultivating increasingly closer defence ties in recent years. The RSAF maintains a training detachment of F-16s and Boeing CH-47 Chinooks at two US bases and is discussing the deployment of a second F-16 squadron at Cannon AFB, New Mexico. In return, the USAF makes rotational deployments of F-16s to Singapore for six months of the year, while US Navy carriers are to be given access to Singapore's Changi naval base.
In the meantime, Singapore is expected to decide shortly on a shortlist of contenders for an attack helicopter requirement. Sources suggest that its final decision will be narrowed down to the Boeing AH-64D Longbow Apache, Eurocopter Tiger and possibly the Denel CSH-2 Rooivalk.
Source: Flight International
