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The RSAF Inaugurates the M-346 into 150 Squadron

8/9/2014

RSAF officials and representatives from ST Aerospace, Boeing and Alenia Aermacchi during the first M-346 trainer's roll-out ceremony in Italy in 2012. (Photo: Alenia Aermacchi)

By: Singapore Ministry of Defence (www.mindef.gov.sg)

Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen officiated at a ceremony to inaugurate the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) new Advanced Jet Trainer, the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 aircraft, into 150 Squadron at Cazaux Air Base in France this afternoon (Singapore time).

Air Weapons: Singapore Seeks Survival Through Precision

6/8/2014

F-15E Strike Eagle ripple dropping 2000lbs GBU-31 JDAM towards targets in Afghanistan. (Photo: USAF)

By: Strategy Page (http://www.strategypage.com)

Singapore recently ordered another 963 JDAM kits. When added to an unguided bomb (228 kg/500 pound on up to 912 kg) the kit (GPS, flight computer, batteries and movable fins to guide the bomb) turns the “dumb” bomb into a smart bomb. Singapore uses JDAM on its newly acquired F-15E fighter-bombers. These were ordered in 2007 and had arrived by 2011. Back in 2008 Singapore placed its order for weapons to equip these F-15Es. The weapons list included 200 AIM-120C AMRAAM radar guided air-to-air missiles, 200 AIM-9X heat seeking air-to-air missiles, 150 JDAM kits, and 60 AIM-154 JSOW (JDAM with wings, and the ability to glide 50-130 kilometers). In addition, maintenance equipment and practice missiles are also on order.

SINGAPORE REQUEST FOR 913 JDAM KITS

7/7/2014

F-16C dropping a JDAM bomb during a high-altitude test flight. Note the typical JDAM jacket and tail section containing the guidance section. (Photo: USAF)

By: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (www.dsca.mil)

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) kits and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $63 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on July 3, 2014.

Airbus Defence To Test-Fly Upgraded A330 Tanker in 2016

11/6/2014

Singapore will be the first customer for all the enhancement on the A330 MRTT. (Photo: defenseforumindia.com)

By: Andrew Chuter (www.defensenews.com)

The military aircraft arm of Airbus Defence and Security will start test-flying an enhanced version of the A330 MRTT tanker transport in the second half of 2016 and intends to adopt the new standard with the delivery of the first platform to Singapore, its latest customer.

The improvements will include upgrades to the military systems and the green A330 aircraft itself, according to Antonio Caramazana, the Airbus vice president of military derivative programs.

Singapore to buy Airbus refuelling tankers for air force

6/3/2014

Singapore has confirmed the acqusition of A330 MRTT to replace their ageing KC-135s. (Photo: Taringa.net)

By: Agence France Presse (www.afp.com)

Singapore said Thursday it would replace its ageing KC-135R air refuelling tankers made by US firm Boeing with Airbus's A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament of the decision to acquire the MRTT, which is based on the civilian A330 plane.

Singapore announces SGD12.56 billion defence budget

26/2/2014

By: Jon Grevatt (www.janes.com)

Singapore has announced a 2014 defence budget of SGD12.56 billion (USD9.93 billion), a 3.2% increase over spending in 2013, the government said on 21 February.

Alenia Aermacchi Sets Its Sights on Thai Trainer Contest

16/2/2014

M-346 is expected to face stiff competition from KAI T-50 Golden Eagle. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

By: Andrew Chuter (www.defensenews.com)

Thailand is the next regional target for the M-346 jet trainer maker Alenia Aermacchi, according to Giovanni Timossi, the company's vice president of sales in Asia.

A request for proposals (RfPs) for eight to 10 jet trainers is expected to be released next month, he said. No other advanced trainer RfPs are in the pipeline for the region at the moment, said Timossi.

Singapore Boosts Air Defense with MBDA Missiles and Thales Radars

16/2/2014

Aster 30 in a firing test. The system can engage hostile aircraft in ranges between 3 to 120 kilometer. (Photo: MBDA/DGA EM)

By: Chris Pocock (www.ainonline.com)

Singapore is buying Thales Raytheon Systems GroundMaster 200 radars, adding to an already-extensive ground-based air defense (GBAD) line-up of systems. A development radar, mounted on a Man 8 x 8 truck, was on display in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) static display at the Singapore Airshow this week. The nearby RSAF pavilion contained graphics that confirmed the island state’s purchase of MBDAAster 30 air defense missiles.

BAE Takes Aim at F-15 and F/A-18 Upgrade Work

13/2/2014

F-15E in action over Afghanistan. Expected to serve until 2030, it present a huge market for upgrades. (Photo: USAF)

By: Andrew Chuter (www.defensenews.com)

With a substantial contract under its belt to upgrade South Korea’s fleet of Lockheed Martin F-16s, BAE Systems is now looking to extend its activities in the market for modifying other nations’ aircraft by looking at Boeing’s F-15 and F/A-18 jets, said executives from the US arm of the British-based company.

BAE returned to the Singapore Airshow for the first time in years, hoping that a local program to update F-16s might be thrown open to competition rather handed to aircraft builder Lockheed Martin, as looks the case right now.

F-16 Upgrade Contenders Dogfight in Singapore

13/2/2014

Taiwan present a huge market for F-16 upgrading. ROCAF currently operates 150 F-16A/B acquired in 1992. (Photo: Wikimedia Commons)

By: Chris Pocock (www.ainonline.com)

The war of words between the system integrators and radar houses that are chasing the F-16 upgrade market intensified here this week. With 3,500 Fighting Falcons still flying, at least one-third of which might be upgraded, the stakes are high. Here in Singapore, BAE Systems Inc. and Raytheon are hoping that the local Ministry of Defence will entertain their rival proposals for a contract that could be worth almost $2.5 billion, and consider them above the solution offered by Lockheed Martin (LM) and Northrop Grumman (NG).

SGA14: Singapore Airshow GM 200 display confirms air force purchase

12/2/2014

By: Beth Stevenson (www.shepardmedia.com)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has displayed its Shikra radar – based on the ThalesRaytheonSystems (TRS) Ground Master (GM) 200 - on-board an 8x8 vehicle at the Singapore Air Show, thus confirming the purchase of the air defence radar system.

Singapore Air Force Prepares for Final Delivery of Alenia Trainers

12/2/2014

Singapore has signed for 12 M-346 trainers (Photo: Alenia Aermacchi)

By: Wendell Minnick (www.defensenews.com)

The Singapore Air Force will receive the final 12 M-346 new generation advanced trainers from ST Aerospace and Alenia Aermacchi in March. The Feb. 12 announcement was made at the Singapore Airshow, being held from Feb. 11-16.

Asian States Close In on Fighter Deals

10/2/2014

An F-35B lands at USMC Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Singapore has the option of going ahead with F-35 procurement should CAPES is cancelled. (Photo: USMC)

By: Wendell Minnick (www.defensenews.com)
As regional powers gather at the Singapore Airshow this week, two issues will be at the forefront: upgrading their F-16s and/or buying F-35s.

Arms Makers Try To Cash In As Asian Disputes Escalate

10/2/2014

RSAF Black Knights captivates audiences with their stunning moves (Photo: Ainonline/ Mark Wagner)

By: Agense France-Presse (www.afp.com)

Asia’s top aerospace and defense show opens Tuesday in Singapore, with major global arms makers seeking to cash in on rising military spending in China and elsewhere as territorial disputes escalate in the region.

Unfunded F-16 Upgrades Put Jet's Combat Value in Doubt. Taiwan, Singapore Were Banking on Now-defunded Program

3/2/2014

An F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (Photo: USAF)

By: Wendell Minnick and Aaron Mehta (www.defensenews.com)

As officials in Taiwan’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) were busying themselves for Chinese New Year celebrations last week, they received potentially devastating news for the Pacific nation’s air defense plans.

The US Air Force plans to defund the combat avionics programmed extension suite (CAPES) program, as budget constraints could force the service to move remaining money from CAPES to the F-16 service-life extension program (SLEP), according to sources.