PUBLISHED ONSeptember 03, 2026 1:47 PMBYSean LerThe first of Singapore's 20 F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters is planned for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026.
The first Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft will be delivered to a US airbase at the end of 2026.
Twelve of the jets are F-35Bs, which will be permanently based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Meanwhile, the remaining eight F-35As will be housed at Tengah Air Base from the fourth quarter of 2029.
The report also added that Singapore had begun design works on a "main operating base" at Tengah Air Base to house the F-35As.
These updates were revealed in a US Department of War report dated April 21 that was cleared for open publication on Aug 3.
The report also revealed that Singapore's purchase of the 20 fighter jets and related equipment came at a cost of US$4.06 billion (S$5.17 billion).
In 2017, the Ministry of National Development, National Environment Agency and Singapore Land Authority announced the acquisition of several private land plots, graves exhumation and a road realignment, to support Tengah Air Base's expansion plans.
This is to accommodate some of the assets and facilities from Paya Lebar Air Base — which is being relocated — to free up some 800ha of land in the north-east, while ensuring the RSAF's operational readiness.
The acquisition of the eight F-35As, announced by then-Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Ministry of Defence's Committee of Supply debate in 2024, follows an initial acquisition of four F-35Bs in 2019, and another eight of the same short takeoff variant in 2023.
Explaining Singapore's purchase then, Dr Ng said that the eight F-35As — designed for greater endurance and higher-capacity payloads, will provide the Singapore Armed Forces with "greater operational flexibility" in land-scarce Singapore.
During a visit to Lockheed Martin's production facility in Fort Worth, Texas in September last year, Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing highlighted that the F-35 acquisition is part of MINDEF's and the Singapore Armed Forces' long-term strategy to build up its air force's future fighter fleet.
This future fleet will comprise a diversified mix of F-35As, F-35Bs, and F-15SGs to meet Singapore's operational requirements and to maintain a strong, capable fighter force to safeguard its skies.
Over the past year, Singapore also announced the acquisition of four new Boeing-made P-8A maritime patrol aircraft — expected to enter service in the early 2030s, and three new Gulfstream G550 maritime surveillance aircraft.
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