SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will take part in a training exercise with United States F-35As, fighter jets that Singapore announced this week it was acquiring.
On Wednesday (Feb 28), Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said Singapore will buy eight F-35A jets, adding to an existing order of the plane’s “B” variant. This will bring the RSAF’s F-35 eventual fleet size to 20.
Eight United States Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) F-35A fighter jets will be in Singapore from Mar 1 to Mar 7 for a stopover before heading to Korat, Thailand, where they will take part in Exercise Cope Tiger 2024, alongside the air forces of Singapore and Thailand.
“During the stopover, the F-35As will conduct Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) with the RSAF’s F-15SG aircraft,” said Singapore’s Defence Ministry (MINDEF) on Friday, using the term for training exercises between two different types of aircraft.
The exercise will also involve air-to-air refuelling drills with the RSAF’s A330 Multi Role Tanker Transport.