Singapore Is in Line to Get Its First F-35 Fighters Later This Year
•February 6, 2026
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Companies Mentioned
Why It Matters
The acquisition gives Singapore a fifth‑generation stealth capability, enhancing deterrence and power projection in a contested regional airspace, while accelerating the Asia‑Pacific’s overall F-35 fleet density and logistics network.
Key Takeaways
- •Singapore receives first four F-35Bs by year-end 2026
- •Total RSAF F-35 fleet will reach 20 aircraft by 2030
- •Asia‑Pacific F-35 presence projected over 300 units by 2030
- •Japan set to become largest non‑US F-35 operator soon
Pulse Analysis
Singapore’s entry into the fifth‑generation fighter arena marks a pivotal shift in Southeast Asian air power dynamics. By fielding the short‑take‑off/vertical‑landing F-35B, the RSAF gains unprecedented operational agility for island and urban environments, complementing its existing F‑15SG and modernized F‑16V fleets. The move signals a clear intent to maintain a qualitative edge amid rising great‑power competition in the South China Sea, where stealth, sensor fusion, and network‑centric capabilities are increasingly decisive.
The broader Asia‑Pacific region is experiencing a rapid F-35 buildup, with Lockheed Martin forecasting more than 300 aircraft in service by 2030. Australia already operates the largest non‑U.S. fleet, while Japan is on track to surpass it with a combined 147 A and B variants. South Korea’s 40‑plus jets and Singapore’s upcoming 20 add depth to a collective deterrent posture. Heavy maintenance, repair, and overhaul hubs in Japan and Australia further embed the platform into regional logistics chains, reducing turnaround times and fostering local industrial participation.
For Lockheed Martin, the Singapore order reinforces its growth trajectory after delivering a record 191 jets last year and clearing the Technology Refresh‑3 backlog. The diversified customer base spreads risk and sustains production lines, while the anticipated 156 deliveries this year keep the supply chain robust. However, the firm faces headwinds as potential buyers like Taiwan and Thailand encounter political barriers. Continued investment in upgrade paths and regional support infrastructure will be critical to maintaining momentum and capitalizing on the expanding market for fifth‑generation combat aircraft.
Singapore is in line to get its first F-35 fighters later this year
SINGAPORE — Singapore is slated join the F-35 operator club once the first of its Lockheed Martin F-35B fighters enter service later this year, becoming the fourth Asia-Pacific nation to fly the fifth-generation fighter.
Steve Sheehy, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Aeronautics International Business Development, predicted in a briefing at Singapore Airshow 2026 that more than 300 F-35s will be present in the region by 2030. This figure includes American F-35s based in Japan and Alaska.
Australia has 72 F-35A fighters, the last of which arrived in December 2024. In fact, Australia is currently the largest F-35 operator outside the United States.
However, that moniker will eventually transfer to Japan once the Japan Air Self-Defense Force gains its full complement of 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B jets. Japan received its first four F-35Bs last year.
Elsewhere in the region, South Korea took delivery of 40 F-35As and has another 20 on order.
Singapore is set to receive four F-35Bs before year’s end, based on a 2019 order. They will initially operate from Ebbing Air National Guard Base, before F-35s are introduced at Tengah Air Base in Singapore in around 2029, according to Lockheed Martin.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has a further eight F-35Bs on order, these due for handover in 2028. Then, in February 2024, eight F-35As were added to Singapore’s order book and these should be delivered by 2030. This will give the RSAF a total of 20 F-35s in two variants.
Major Gen. Kelvin Fan, Singapore’s Chief of Air Force, commented: “The F-35As, with greater endurance and higher payload capacity, will provide sustained reach and persistence, while the F-35Bs with short take-off and vertical-landing capability will offer greater operational agility.”
Along with 40 F-15SG fighters and around 60 F-16C/Ds brought up to F-16V configuration, the RSAF eclipses every other Southeast Asian nation in terms of air combat power.
Of four F-35 heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities around the world, two are in Asia-Pacific – in Australia and Japan. The others are in Italy and the United States.
Sheehy said his company delivered a record 191 F-35s last year. However, that number was swollen by delays in rolling out Technology Refresh 3 updates. He said the TR-3 backlog has been cleared, and he expected 156 F-35s to be delivered this year.
Further F-35 customers in Asia-Pacific may be difficult to find, however. Both Taiwan and Thailand have been rebuffed in recent years, although U.S. President Donald Trump invited Indian interest last year.
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