Singapore has announced that they intend on purchasing eight additional F-35B fighters. This will bring the total number of F-35s operated by Singapore to 12. The deal comes after Singaporean Air Force pilots were able to fly F-35 mission simulators with instructors. The small island nation is likely impressed with the F-35B’s short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) capabilities. The B variant of the F-35 is capable of taking off while fully loaded on a runway of just 600 feet. This is significantly less than the 6,000 feet required for the F-35A. That short takeoff capability is very useful for a small island nation like Singapore. Especially since Singapore plans to close one of its military bases in the first half of the 2030s.
Deliveries of Singapore’s F-35Bs are expected to begin in 2026.
