The acquisition of F-35 fighter jets by the Republic of Singapore Air Force is for Singapore's own defence deterrence and not directed against, or to align itself with, any particular country, said the Ministry of Defence .
Published on Thursday last week, the report also suggested that the acquisition carried a message to China as Singapore will become"the fourth American ally" in the Pacific region to own F-35s, after Australia, Japan and South Korea. "While Singapore has allowed United States ships and aircraft usage of some of our military facilities, this is not a reaction to any recent developments. It is a long-standing arrangement dating back to 1990," added Mindef.
The F-35 - dubbed one of the world's most advanced fighter jets - has been identified as a replacement for Singapore's ageing fleet of F-16s, which face obsolescence beyond 2030.