Tracking RSAF’s capability — Part II
4. Singapore’s Block 4.2, STOVL F-35Bs needs about 550 feet to take off & reduce dependence on long runways in war. Singapore’s F-35B
*2 order includes a new brain for Block 4.2 jets delivered after 2023 — this includes an improved Lockheed electro-optical targeting system and a wide-area high-resolution synthetic aperture radar (SAR) mode – dubbed “– Big SAR” to the Northrop Grumman APG-81 AESA Radar. In Oct 2020, Pratt & Whitney was awarded a US$1.5 million contract by the F-35 Joint Program Office to study engine upgrade requirements for Block 4.2. The engine company plans to conclude the assessment for the improvements needed for its F135 engine by March 2021. The study is focused on what is needed to improve the up and away thrust, powered lift thrust, electrical power and thermal management capacity, as well as what it would take to reduce fuel burn of the engine.
5. Back in 2015, Gen. Herbert “Hawk” Carlisle, chief of Air Combat Command said: “I think as we look to the future, the Big SAR and advanced EOTS are the things we have to have on the sensor side.” The Computing upgrade for the F-35 is called Technical Refresh 3, and it's the first major electronic and computer update for the F-35 since Block 3i testing wrapped up in 2016. Besides runway denial, sophisticated SAM systems (including VL systems on naval vessels) can deny the control of air unless these fighters have VLO characteristics.
6. The F-35B’s 7 functions for the RSAF are, as follows:
(1) to conduct aerial reconnaissance;
(2) to conduct air warfare (both offensive & defensive counter air);
(3) to provide air support for troops (both BAI & CAS);
(4) to support naval air-sea integration (including anti-ship missions);
(5) to enable high end SEAD missions;
(6) to conduct electronic warfare; &
(7) to represent the RSAF in the annual NDP fly pass (plus at air shows
).
7. Map of F-35B operators and potential operators.
8. F-35B/C award from the DoD that includes "unique sea trials on aircraft carriers for non-DoD participants". There is some suspicion that these sea trials are for Japan, Korea or Singapore — with a firm order of 4 F-35Bs (and an option for 8 more, to be exercised later).
9. STOVL F-35B offers opportunity for operators to develop carriers, with Australia*, Japan, Singapore, Spain**, and South Korea all having expressed interest.
*Thus far, Australia has only ordered F-35As. On 23 April 2014, Australia confirmed the purchase of 58 F-35A Lightning II fighters in a US$11.5 billion deal. The 58 fighter order is the second tranche of the Air 6000 Phase 2A/2B new air combat capability.
** The Spanish Navy wants to replace its 12 Harrier jets, which are launched from the LPH Juan Carlos I. That ship’s short, ski-jump deck makes the F-35B the only option on the market, according to Cdr. Antonio Estevan, a staff officer at the service’s plans and policy division. At present, despite the interest, Spain does not have declared plans to place an order of F-35Bs.
8 F-35 supply chain partners: Australia, Canada, Denmark, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, UK and the US
- 6 F-35 Potential Purchasers: Canada*1 Finland, Greece, Spain, Romania, and UAE
- 13 F-35 Operators *1 with orders placed: Israel, Japan, South Korea, Belgium, Poland and Singapore *2
*1 Canada has not formerly placed an order for its allotment of F-35As (and therefore excluded as an operator)
*2 F-35 Block 4 is also expected to include integration of country-specific weapons requested by foreign F-35 operators, including U.K.’s SPEAR and Meteor missile, Norway’s Kongsberg Joint-Strike Missile, which can strike land or sea targets
