F-15SG Singapore Air Force
At the beginning of January 2020 , Singapore has received approval for the purchase in the United States a dozen F-35B aircraft along with spare engines and parts, electronics, equipment, machines and other necessary equipment. contract costs 2,75 billion. dollars.
Generally, rather communicating news, at first sight, especially since the representatives of Singapore did not do in this special accent. Singapore's Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen emphasized, The latest that the jets are to gradually replace fighters F-16 C / D, that in the Air Force of Singapore today 60 units.
It seems to be a little of these aircraft. 12 units - half of Singapore Air Force squadron on the number of; probably, aircraft of this type will be consolidated in a single squadron. Yet something in the news there. Singapore little threatened, that here so to take and arm.
Singapore - a small, but well-armed island
Singapore and so well armed, not bad for such a small island state. In the army there 72 thousand. Singapore Air Force - it 319 aircraft and helicopters of various types and 14,8 thousand. staff person, placed on four large airbases. The basis of the striking power of the Singapore Aviation now account 40 F-15SG и 60 F-16 C/D.
Scheme Singapore airbases
There is another factor, which greatly increases the military potential of Singapore. He is in close alliance with the US and its allies. Singapore, in particular, part of the military agreement Five Power Defense Arrangement together with the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Singapore has US support in the region. US planes have access to Paya Lebar Air Base, and warships could enter the naval base Sembawang. Conducted joint military exercises. for example, in October 2019 , American and Singaporean warships sunk a decommissioned American frigate USS Ford (FFG-54). That is, the two countries are ready to fight together, and this makes Singapore a de facto part of the US-led coalition in the Western Pacific. US to this are taken seriously, time actively involved in the Air Forces newest aircraft in Singapore.
Control the Strait of Malacca
This is not surprising, because it is a strategic interest. Singapore is situated at the eastern exit of the Straits of Malacca - a major shipping line in Southeast Asia, for which there is a main sea freight from Asia to Europe and Africa. In the year of the strait are about 50 thousands of merchant ships. Fairway runs along the southern coast of the island, and Singapore controls the airspace above it.
Navigation on the Straits of Malacca
Because small island is of great importance in the likely naval blockade of China. In the event of a major US-Chinese conflict Singapore, of course, He will speak on the US side and will be able to ban the passage of the Chinese courts in the Straits of Malacca, that will create serious and intractable problems for China.
"Dove of peace" in the American: Is the US Trump save from a new war
China also do anything about it can not. He does not have the newest aircraft, to resist the latest Singapore Aviation, and does not have the capacity to create their numerical superiority in the air in the Malacca Strait (Strait outside the combat radius of the Chinese aircraft, based on coastal airfields). In theory, if China would have three full-fledged aircraft carrier, he might try to secure passage of its ships strait. But the Chinese Navy aircraft carrier in case of conflict will be a lot of other, no less important tasks. So the Malacca Strait will be closed, and China to open its military force can not. This fact is very high strategic importance.
US assistance to the conflict with China
But one control Strait is not limited. Singapore Air Force is clearly prepared to fight far from their airfields. Airbase Paya Lebar based forty A-15SG from the 142nd and 149th squadron and based here five air tankers KC-130B from the 122nd squadron. At the airbase based Changi East 20 F-16D aircraft of 145 Squadron and four tanker aircraft A330 MRTT 112 Squadron. essentially, This air connections, in which fighters are assigned refueling tankers. With the in-flight refueling of Singapore Air Force aircraft can operate in almost the entire South China Sea.
And where can head to Singapore fighter with refueling? The only area outside the combat radius Singapore aircraft without refueling, which in principle can be expected to fighting, - this is disputed Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, about 1500 kilometers north-east of Singapore.
Interestingly, Singapore acquires aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing, although there is no particular problem with basing their aircraft on the ground airfields. Outlying islands, which would require the presence of air and where it would be difficult to build a full-fledged airport, in Singapore is also no. IN USA, Britain and Japan F-35B intended for deployment on aircraft carriers: aircraft carriers, Large landing ship or helicopter, in Japan. However, the Singapore navy of ships no, probably, not expected.
From this we can conclude the following. It is assumed, that Singapore's F-35B can operate with the support of US aircraft carrying ships or Japan. for example, American ships Wasp type or similar type of Japanese ships Izumo can provide the action of these aircraft.
So that the acquisition of Singapore's newest aircraft, in fact, It is the strengthening of the allied forces of the Americans in the South China Sea to the aggravation of the situation in case, fight over disputed islands, a show of force and the like of force. To defend F-35B of the island is clearly excessive; in Singapore no close opponents, who could challenge him. Relations with Indonesia friendship and partnership, relations with Vietnam is also pursuing development of the strategic partnership. The recent controversy over the invasion of Vietnam in Cambodia in 1979 year, in which Prime Minister Lee of Singapore Xianglong accused Vietnam, not affected and could not on the relations of the two countries be the reason for the purchase of arms. It remains the only option US aid in possible conflict with China.
Help can be very effective. Combined with Allied aircraft carriers Singaporean F-35B may generally be in the most unexpected places like Taiwan and Okinawa, and can operate as part of the mixed compounds.
Since the aircraft require the deployment of ground handling, the purchase of these aircraft Singapore creates a fundamental possibility for the F-35 allies (USA, Great Britain, Australia, Japan) based on Singapore and maintained air bases. Especially for the UK, having 15 F-35B aircraft. This feature reduces the US dependence aviation and their allies from the mid-air refueling and facilitates the management of possible hostilities.
Dmitry Verkhoturov
