Singapore is shining bright at the mega aerospace event. While it was already favourite for defence tycoons like Dassault, Boeing and Eurofighter, due to its fighter replacement programme, it advanced a significant step in relations with United States by participating more actively in U.S.-led Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme.
Singapore is expected to increase its involvement in the United States-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme which includes the US, Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway and Turkey, to develop a new multi-role fighter with stealth capabilities. According to industry sources, Singapore should, in a month or so, join the multinational programme as a security cooperation participant.
In return for an undisclosed financial contribution, it will gain access to more frequent and detailed updates on the programme's progress than is available to countries not involved with the programme.
Singapore's decision to get more involved in the F-35 programme comes a year after the Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent to participate. Last February, Mindef said the plane was 'a potential candidate' to meet the air force's 'longer-term requirements for a multi-role fighter'.
