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Singapore reveals it might choose a different F-35 variant https://www.defensenews.com/air/2022/09/06/singapore-reveals-it-might-choose-a-different-f-35-variant/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_defensenews&fbclid=IwAR1M35A-KQYZYxvS_17tY-8IfgupzUL9m4286MiTtpiUP6pMKTW9y7bVPuU By Mike Yeo Sep 6, 11:53 PM A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B hovers above the water during the Singapore Airshow on Feb. 15, 2022. (Roslan Rahman/AFP via Getty Images) DARWIN, Australia — Singapore is considering buying another F-35 variant despite already selecting and receiving U.S. approval for the “B” version, which can take off from short runways and land vertically, according to a top official with the procurement effort. Speaking to media during a multinational air combat exercise in northern Australia, Major Zhang Jian Wei, who leads his country’s office in charge of the next-generation fighter project, left open the possibility that the island nation may choose another variant. The other two F-35 versions are the “A” — which operates from conventional runways — and the “C” — which is used on aircraft carriers. He did not give a timeline for how long the evaluation will take, only saying Singapore will “make further decisions when ready.” Singapore selected the F-35B as its candidate to replace its fleet of 60 F-16C/D multirole fighters, which are receiving upgrades but are due for retirement beginning in the early 2030s. It is expected Singapore will order more fighters in tranches to replace the fleet, per its normal practice. Zhang, who leads a team of four subject matter experts at his project office, said the ongoing exercise Pitch Black in Australia has served as a “valuable opportunity” for the Republic of Singapore Air Force to understand the ability of the F-35 to operate with other assets and act as a force multiplier in a large force employment setting. The F-35 is taking part in the exercise for the first time, with host Australia flying F-35As while U.S. Marines use their F-35Bs. The Singaporeans engaged with both detachments at the exercise, with Lt. Col. Richard Behrmann, operations officer at Marine Aircraft Group 12 based in Iwakuni, Japan, telling Defense News that the Marines began an “excellent dialogue” with the Republic of Singapore Air Force in the months before the exercise. Planning involved the F-35 Joint Program Office, and Singapore sent teams to the Marine Corps’ F-35B detachment at RAAF Base Tindal “to observe operations, interact with maintenance personnel, look at our planning spaces and generally discuss the way that we operate.” Zhang noted that Singapore signed a letter of offer and acceptance in 2020 for the F-35 and has since gained increased access to program information exclusive to operators of the stealthy fifth-generation fighter. The country has also been able to interact with global F-35 operators as part its evaluation process by attending a user conference in May involving operators from Europe and the Pacific region. Personnel from Zhang’s office also visited F-35 facilities and attended a training session in Forth Worth, Texas, with American instructors. Attendees also used high-fidelity simulators, which Zhang said enabled better understanding of the operational capability of the aircraft as well as engineering and maintenance requirements. Singapore received U.S. State Department approval in January 2020 to acquire an initial tranche of four F-35Bs with an option for eight more aircraft in a deal valued at $2.75 billion, with deliveries expected to start from 2026. The small Southeast Asian island nation is due to move its F-16 training detachment at Luke Air Force Base in Phoenix, Arizona, to Ebbing Air National Guard Base at Fort Smith, Arkansas, in 2023. It will eventually transition to F-35B training following the delivery of its first aircraft.

British F-35 crashes into the Mediterranean, pilot ejects safely. https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/11/17/british-f-35-crashes-into-the-mediterranean-pilot-ejects-safely/ British & American F-35Bs from HMS Queen Elizabeth joined those from the US, Italy and Israel for Exercise Falcon Strike 21 (FS21) in June 2021. FS21 is a joint, multinational exercise designed to integrate fourth and fifth generation aircraft and apply their advanced capabilities to an increasingly complex & contested battle space. (U.K. Royal Navy) LONDON – A British F-35B combat jet based on the new Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has crashed into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Ministry of Defence confirmed Nov. 17. The pilot ejected and has been picked up and returned safely to the carrier. The F-35B short-take-off, vertical-landing jet was one of eight British aircraft deployed on the Queen Elizabeth as it returned from a deployment in the Far East. The aircraft is one of 24 so far delivered to the British. The British are ordering 48 jets so far but have pledged to purchase 138, although that number is likely to be cut. Ten US Marine F-35B’s are also deployed on the carrier. The MoD said the crash occurred at 10:00 GMT during a routine operation from the carrier. No other aircraft were involved. HMS Queen Elizabeth is on its maiden operational deployment, acting as the centerpiece of a British-led carrier strike group including U.S. and Dutch warships. An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, the MoD said on Wednesday. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/nov/17/british-f35-jet-crashes-into-mediterranean A British F-35 pilot flying from the Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier had to eject during a routine operation over the Mediterranean, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said. The pilot was picked up but the £100m stealth jet crashed into the sea during the incident, which took place at about 10am UK time. No other vessels or aircraft were involved, defence sources said. The accident took place shortly after the F-35 took off, the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, said, but despite the incident other operational and training flights involving the jets were carrying on for the moment. An MoD spokesperson said: “A British F-35 pilot from HMS Queen Elizabeth ejected during routine flying operations in the Mediterranean this morning. The pilot has been safely returned to the ship and an investigation has begun, so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this time.” An immediate priority is recovery of the wreckage, with the UK keen to ensure the lost aircraft does not end up in the hands of a hostile state such as Russia. HMS Queen Elizabeth is returning to the UK after a long deployment that has taken it through the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and back. Eight British and 10 US F-35Bs were deployed onboard before Wednesday. Britain agreed to buy 48 F-35Bs from the US military company Lockheed Martin, at a cost of £6bn by 2025. Of those, 24 have been delivered. It is the first accident involving an RAF F-35B, although there have been a handful of previous accidents involving the fighter jets in the past three years. The most similar crash happened in September 2018, involving an F-35B, when the pilot, a US Marine, had to eject in South Carolina. Faulty engine tubes were blamed. Jets from HMS Queen Elizabeth previously participated in strikes against the remnants of Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. The crash will be investigated by the Defence Accident Investigation Branch, which usually takes several weeks before producing an initial report. A final report typically takes about a year to complete.