(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — Singapore’s first F-35 stealth fighter is officially on track for delivery by the end of 2026, marking a historic milestone that will propel the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) into the exclusive fifth-generation airpower club.

The announcement underscores Singapore’s long-term commitment to maintaining regional air superiority, with 20 F-35s slated for delivery under a carefully phased acquisition programme.

“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,” said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth production line on 12 September.

Accompanied by Chief of Air Force Major-General Kelvin Fan, Mr Chan was briefed on the F-35’s production process, stealth shaping, advanced avionics, and integration of precision strike weapons such as the AIM-120D AMRAAM and GBU-53/B Small Diameter Bomb II.

The decision to acquire the F-35 was first signalled in 2019, when the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) approved Singapore’s request for up to 12 F-35B short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) variants as an initial evaluation batch.

In 2020, Singapore officially confirmed the purchase of four F-35Bs, with an option for eight more, before later committing to expand its fleet to 20 aircraft as part of a long-term force modernisation plan.

This phased approach was deliberately designed to allow the RSAF to gain early access to the platform, train pilots and maintainers on its highly complex systems, and develop doctrine for fifth-generation air combat operations.

By starting with a small initial batch, Singapore reduced risk while simultaneously gaining entry into the global F-35 user network, ensuring that its air force could gradually build operational familiarity with the aircraft’s stealth, electronic warfare, and networked data fusion capabilities.

The initial four aircraft will also serve as test and evaluation units, allowing the RSAF to refine tactics, techniques, and procedures before scaling up to a full squadron that will operate seamlessly alongside its F-15SGs.

This mirrors the procurement philosophy of several other early F-35 adopters, including Japan and South Korea, both of which began with limited numbers before committing to larger fleets once the aircraft’s operational maturity was proven.

Singapore’s incremental commitment also reflects its strategic doctrine of “capability before quantity,” ensuring that every addition to the RSAF’s inventory delivers a qualitative edge that can be fully absorbed into its integrated air defence ecosystem.

By the mid-2030s, when all 20 aircraft are delivered, Singapore is expected to have one of the most advanced and battle-ready F-35 fleets in Asia, with both conventional take-off F-35As and STOVL-capable F-35Bs operating under a highly networked, multi-domain command structure.

This timeline not only reflects Singapore’s reputation for defence pragmatism but also demonstrates its understanding that fifth-generation airpower is as much about training, sustainment, and integration as it is about sheer aircraft numbers.

The procurement strategy ensures that by the time Singapore reaches full operational capability with 20 F-35s, its personnel, infrastructure, and support systems will already be optimised for maximum combat effectiveness.

Crucially, this gradual buildup also provides Singapore with flexibility to adapt to technological advances, software upgrades, and future block enhancements of the F-35, keeping the RSAF at the cutting edge of aerial warfare well into the 2040s.

READ: How Singapore’s Land-Only F-35B Strategy Changes the Game in Southeast Asian Airpower

Regional Airpower Balance in Southeast Asia

The strategic implication of Singapore’s F-35 purchase reverberates far beyond the island republic, fundamentally reshaping the regional balance of power in Southeast Asia.

By inducting the F-35, Singapore ensures that its air force will remain unmatched in terms of survivability, situational awareness, and precision strike capability, even against near-peer competitors deploying advanced radar and surface-to-air missile systems.

The F-35’s stealth and sensor fusion capabilities provide the RSAF with the ability to penetrate anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) environments, a capability not currently available to any other ASEAN air force.

This acquisition also locks Singapore into the wider network of U.S. and allied F-35 operators, creating an unprecedented level of interoperability with Australia, Japan, and South Korea in coalition operations.

Regionally, the RSAF’s future fleet of F-35s and F-15SGs will decisively outclass neighbouring air forces.

Malaysia continues to operate legacy Su-30MKMs and F/A-18D Hornets, with no fifth-generation fighters on the horizon, leaving a significant qualitative gap against Singapore’s stealth fleet.

Although the Su-30MKM remains a highly manoeuvrable multirole fighter with long-range strike capability, its avionics, radar, and electronic warfare systems are now considered dated compared to modern fifth-generation platforms.

Budgetary pressures and political delays have further stalled Malaysia’s attempts to procure new fighters, with its current focus directed instead on the more modest Light Combat Aircraft/Fighter Lead-In Trainer (LCA/FLIT) programme.

This situation leaves the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) with limited options to counter Singapore’s incoming F-35s, particularly in a high-intensity, contested air environment where stealth and sensor fusion dictate survival.

Vietnam operates Su-27s and Su-30MK2Vs, which are capable but aging platforms that lack modern electronic warfare suites and stealth design, making them highly vulnerable in contested environments.

While the Su-30MK2V provides Vietnam with a limited maritime strike and air superiority capability, the aircraft is based on older Russian technology that has seen little in terms of upgrades in avionics or radar.

The lack of AESA radar, advanced beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles, and comprehensive datalink systems severely restricts Vietnam’s ability to compete in a modern networked battlespace.

With no confirmed plans to acquire fifth-generation fighters, Hanoi faces an increasingly steep challenge in keeping pace with regional airpower modernisation, particularly against Singapore’s incoming F-35 fleet.

Indonesia’s landmark order for 26 single-seat and 16 twin-seat Rafale fighters was officially signed with French manufacturer Dassault Aviation on February 10, 2022, marking Jakarta’s most ambitious combat aircraft procurement in decades.

The deal was followed by renewed momentum in May 2025 during the visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, when it was revealed that additional Rafale orders could be finalised, potentially expanding Indonesia’s fleet well beyond the initial 42 aircraft.

The Rafales are intended to replace Indonesia’s ageing F-16s and its diverse Sukhoi Su-27 and Su-30 Flanker fleet, which has long been plagued by sustainment, spare parts shortages, and serviceability issues.

At the same time, Indonesia has positioned itself as a partner in the development of South Korea’s KF-21 Boramae and has also signed on for potential future procurement of Türkiye’s TAI Kaan fifth-generation fighter.

However, analysts note that the simultaneous pursuit of three separate high-end fighter programmes risks straining Indonesia’s defence budget, complicating logistics, and diluting operational focus.

The ambitious procurement path underscores Jakarta’s desire to assert itself as a major regional airpower, but questions remain over whether the Indonesian Air Force can realistically integrate, maintain, and operate such a technologically diverse mix of platforms.

If successfully executed, the combined Rafale, KF-21, and Kaan acquisitions could transform Indonesia’s long-term air combat capabilities, but for the foreseeable future the RSAF’s incoming F-35 fleet will maintain a decisive technological and operational edge.

Thailand’s air force continues to rely on F-16s and JAS 39 Gripen C/Ds, while a contract for four Gripen E/F (single and twin-seat) jets was approved by the cabinet in August 2025 to modernise the fleet and enhance air superiority.

The Gripen is central to Thailand’s network-centric combat capability and air defence strategy, integrating with systems like the Saab 340 AEW&C airborne surveillance aircraft.

The acquisition of the newer Gripen E/F variant will provide the Royal Thai Air Force (RTAF) with improved range, payload, and avionics, including the advanced Raven ES-05 AESA radar.

However, with only four aircraft on order and no clear pathway to larger-scale procurement, the RTAF’s modernisation plans risk being outpaced by regional developments such as Singapore’s F-35 induction and Indonesia’s Rafale deal.

Budgetary constraints and competing defence priorities have also limited Thailand’s ability to field a larger fifth-generation capability, leaving it reliant on incremental upgrades rather than transformative fleet renewal.

Despite these challenges, the Gripen E/F programme remains a critical step for Thailand to maintain a credible deterrent posture and ensure interoperability with regional and Western partners.

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is undergoing its most ambitious modernisation in decades under the Horizon 3 phase of the Revised AFP Modernization Program, aimed at transforming it into a credible territorial defence force.

A major priority is the acquisition of multi-role fighters, with Saab’s JAS 39 Gripen C/D and Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Block 70/72 shortlisted, though delays in budget approval have slowed the final selection process.

The PAF has already inducted the South Korean FA-50PH light combat aircraft, which now form the backbone of its tactical fighter fleet and provide pilot training pathways for future high-performance jets.

Beyond fighters, the Philippines is investing in air defence systems, maritime patrol aircraft, and transport assets to improve its ability to safeguard its airspace and respond to challenges in the South China Sea.

While progress remains incremental due to financial constraints, Manila’s push for advanced combat aircraft and integrated air defence networks reflects growing urgency over rising tensions with China in disputed maritime zones.

READ: Singapore’s Defense Minister Reveals “Sensitive Mission” of U.S. F-35s in Ukraine

Geostrategic Impact and Indo-Pacific Implications

Even within the wider Indo-Pacific, only China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) with its J-20 Mighty Dragon and the future carrier-capable J-35A stealth fighter poses a true fifth-generation peer challenge to the RSAF’s incoming F-35s.

While the J-20 has entered frontline service in significant numbers, its combat effectiveness remains unproven, and the aircraft continues to rely on a mix of imported and indigenously developed engines that limit its operational endurance and stealth optimisation.

The J-35A, though showcased in prototype form and earmarked for China’s new aircraft carriers, is still several years from mass deployment, leaving the PLAAF and PLANAF dependent on platforms that are technologically uneven and lacking the battle-tested credibility of the F-35 programme.

Critically, neither Chinese platform benefits from the unparalleled global support, continuous software upgrades, and joint operational network that underpin the F-35 ecosystem, a decisive factor in coalition warfare and cross-domain interoperability.

By contrast, the RSAF’s decision to field both conventional take-off F-35As and short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs gives Singapore unmatched operational flexibility, enabling rapid dispersal to highway strips, secondary runways, or even allied amphibious assault ships.

This dual-variant strategy ensures that Singapore can maintain combat air operations even if Changi and Tengah airbases are neutralised, a resilience factor that few regional militaries can replicate.

It also signals Singapore’s clear intention to operate beyond its limited geography, extending its reach into maritime domains and strengthening deterrence in critical chokepoints such as the Malacca Strait and the South China Sea.

For Washington, Singapore’s F-35 fleet deepens one of its most strategically valuable defence relationships in Southeast Asia, anchoring a forward-operating partner whose capabilities dovetail seamlessly with U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s deterrence posture.

This integration ensures that in any high-intensity scenario involving China, Singapore could play a pivotal enabling role by providing stealth reconnaissance, strike support, and coalition interoperability alongside American, Japanese, Australian, and South Korean F-35 operators.

For the broader region, the delivery of Singapore’s first F-35 in 2026 represents a decisive shift — a signal that the RSAF intends not only to preserve overwhelming qualitative superiority but also to shape the airpower equation in Southeast Asia for decades to come. — DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA