On Friday, September 12, 2025, as part of a broader visit to the United States, the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Singapore, Chan Chun Sing, visited the facilities of the American company Lockheed Martin in Fort Worth, Texas, where he placed a symbolic signature on a wing component of the first Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) F-35B Lightning II multirole aircraft destined for the country.
Photos: Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Singapore
Speaking at a meeting with the plant’s management, Minister Chan said:
“This is not just a milestone, but one step in a long journey that we will take together with Lockheed Martin, our partners in the US Government, the US Air Force, and the community in Ebbing – because every one of us needs to come together in order for this capability to be realised… I want to express my deep appreciation to all of you for making this possible. Without your dedication and support, we will not be here.”
During the visit, accompanied by the Commander of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura, AURS), Major General Kelvin Fan, the Minister of Defense was also briefed on the F-35 program, the aircraft’s capabilities, and the production process.
Minister Chan is on an introductory visit to the United States from September 9–13, and today he visited AURS personnel stationed at Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho for the Forging Sabre 2025 exercise. On September 10, together with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, he announced plans to purchase four Boeing P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol and anti-submarine aircraft.
F-35 for Singapore
As part of the Singapore Armed Forces modernization program for the next 20 years, known as SAF2040, the purchase of 4 F-35B aircraft was announced on January 18, 2019, and a request for proposal was sent to the U.S. Subsequently, on January 9, 2020, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) published the State Department’s approval of the transaction, valued at up to 2.75 billion USD. The contract was signed in March of the same year, without disclosing its value (though it was certainly lower than the proposed amount). Deliveries are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
At that time, it was decided to purchase a small batch for testing, with a later option to decide on additional orders (total demand was estimated at 100 aircraft). Singapore intends to use the F-35B to operate from road runways up to 2,400 m in length.
On June 4, 2021, the Singaporean daily The Straits Times reported that the ordered F-35Bs would be stationed in the manufacturer’s country, at the U.S. Air National Guard base in Ebbing, Fort Smith, Arkansas (where Polish personnel are being trained on the F-35A Husarz – editor’s note).
Then, on February 24, 2023, after the conclusion of the defense budget debate for fiscal year 2023, the Ministry of Defense announced plans to increase the F-35B order from 4 to 12 units, to support the gradual phasing out of the aging fleet of 60 F-16C/D Block 52+ (to be retired after 2030) and to complement the 40 heavier F-15SG Strike Eagle fighters.
On February 28, 2024, Singaporean authorities announced that they would order 8 conventional F-35As (Conventional Take-off and Landing, CTOL), raising the total number of aircraft to 20.
F-35 production for the @TheRSAF continues! 🖋️
Singapore's Minister for Defence and Chief of Airforce signed the wing of RSAF's first F-35 at our @LockheedMartin F-35 production line in Fort Worth, TX. We're so excited to see the RSAF's fleet take shape.📷 pic.twitter.com/Cnqy3qPyP9
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) September 12, 2025
Defence Minister Mr Chan Chun Sing visited Ex Forging Sabre in Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, on 13 Sep (SG time). In its 10th iteration, the biennial integrated sense & strike exercise involves more than 800 personnel from across the SAF & Defence Technology Community.
— Ministry of Defence (@mindefsg) September 13, 2025
Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing visited @LockheedMartin’s F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas on 12 Sep (SG time), where Singapore’s F-35 fighter aircraft are being built. 🇸🇬’s first of 20 F-35 fighter aircraft is on track for delivery in end-2026.
— Ministry of Defence (@mindefsg) September 12, 2025
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