http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/dti/2012/02/01/DT_02_01_2012_p23-414017.xml&headline=Singapore%20Seeks%20Tankers,%20Tranports,%20ASW&channel=defense
Airbus Military could be one of the main beneficiaries of the
Singapore air force’s next round of procurements. Singapore has at
the top of its procurement list aerial refueling tankers, strategic
airlifters and anti-submarine warfare fixed-wing aircraft,
purchases that will see that the island continues to be, for the
next few years at least, the biggest spender on new defense
equipment in Southeast Asia.
The 2011 defense budget was SG$12.1 billion ($9.6 billion),
accounting for 26% of the government budget and about 5% of gross
domestic product (GDP). Some analysts estimate that Singapore, with
a population of about five million, spends more on defense per
capita than any country but Israel.
Defense has always been a top priority, ever since Singapore
gained independence in 1965. The nation’s founder, Lee Kwan Yew,
recently said in the book Hard Truths, that “without a strong
defense, there will be no Singapore. It will become a satellite,
cowed and intimidated by its neighbors.”
Singapore has close defense ties with Israel, a point that is
downplayed—because it is politically sensitive—but one that is
important to remember because it explains why Israeli companies are
short-listed by the Singaporeans for upcoming defense purchases.
The Israelis are in the running to supply aerial refueling tankers
and anti-submarine warfare fixed-wing aircraft.
Aerial refueling tankers are at the top of the list because the
air force needs to replace its four Boeing KC-135Rs. An important
requirement is that the new tankers be able to assist the air
force’s Boeing F-15SGs flying between Singapore and its overseas
detachment at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.
The Boeing KC-46A would ordinarily be the front-runner but
Boeing may have to struggle to win the Singapore contract. The
manufacturer is already committed to deliver 18 KC-46As to the U.S.
Air Force by 2017, leaving no early delivery slots for foreign
customers. A Boeing official told Aviation Week in July 2011 that
it can deliver KC-46As to foreign customers as early as 2018. But
that may be too late for Singapore. Industry executives say
Singapore’s air force has been complaining about the difficulty and
cost of maintaining the aging KC-135Rs. But the need to secure
aerial refueling tankers sooner rather than later creates an
opportunity for Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), which converts
767s to tankers.
However, industry executives familiar with the situation say the
front-runner in this competition is the Airbus Military A330
Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT). Australian air force officials
told DTI at the LIMA air show in Malaysia in December that the
Singapore air force was interested in the A330MRTT and that the
organizers of the Singapore air show were pushing to have a Royal
Australian Air Force (RAAF) tanker on display there. The RAAF,
however, has declined the request. They say the only reason the
A330MRTT was brought to LIMA was because it had to be in Malaysia
for a joint military exercise.
Singapore Technologies Aerospace, the Singapore
government-linked company that maintains many of the air force’s
aircraft, is also familiar with the A330, because it does the heavy
maintenance work on Singapore Airlines’ (SIA) fleet of leased A330
passenger aircraft.
The A330MRTT’s 111,000 kg (245,000 lb.) of fuel is stored in the
wings and horizontal stabilizer, leaving the main fuselage for a
passenger cabin that can seat up to 380 people. In terms of air
cargo, it can transport up to 26 military cargo pallets.
Having the ability to transport passengers and cargo on a
longer-range aircraft, such as the A330MRTT, would certainly be
useful. Airlift is one of the other requirements Singapore lists.
Presently the air force operates five Lockheed Martin C-130Hs,
aircraft that only have the range to travel within Southeast Asia.
But Singapore’s military needs to carry personnel and equipment
farther afield to places where it does training, namely: Australia,
Taiwan, France and the U.S. Singapore’s military has been
chartering commercial aircraft from SIA and for military equipment
it has been chartering Antonov heavy-lift aircraft. It is
understood that Singapore is also considering the Airbus Military
A400M and the Boeing C-17.
Besides strategic airlift and aerial refueling tankers,
Singapore has a requirement for fixed-wing aircraft for
anti-submarine warfare (ASW). These may end up replacing the air
force’s nine Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft, according to some
industry executives. This procurement is in response to the growth
of submarine fleets among Singapore’s neighbors. ASW contenders
include the Alenia ATR 42MP, Boeing P-8A Poseidon and an IAI/Elta
Systems offering, which uses a Bombardier Q400. The Lockheed Martin
P-3C was being considered but is no longer in the running.
Not to be forgotten among the airlift, aerial refueling and
anti-sub acquisition extravaganza are fighters. Singapore is
expected to take interest in Tokyo’s recent decision to choose the
Lockheed F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. Like Israel, Singapore and the
U.S. enjoy close military relations. Indeed, according to a
December 2011 report by the Congressional Research Service on U.S.
Foreign Military Sales (FMS), Singapore’s agreement for $530
million worth of FMS placed it in the top 10 leading purchasers of
U.S. defense articles and services in 2010 worldwide.
And Singapore’s interests extend elsewhere, too. It has explored
the option of using the smaller catapult-launched Boeing ScanEagle
UAV on-board its vessels. Anti-piracy concerns remain another
driving force behind military acquisitions.
http://kementah.blogspot.com/2012/02/singapores-defence-budget-for-financial.html
One of the biggest highlights for defence professionals arriving
this weekend for the Singapore Airshow will take place far from the
show venue in Changi.
The reading of Singapore's Budget Statement this coming Friday (17
Feb 2012) will be keenly watched by the city state's friends and
frenemies.
Defence hacks bombed out by five days of intensive coverage at the
airshow (Monday's press preview plus four Trade Days) will have a
ready-made story on the Lion City's defence posture just by looking
at the Defence budget figure. As news flows tend to dry up on the
last Trade Day of the Sing Airshow, having this big story delivered
on their plate helps scribes justify their presence in sunny
Singapore when most of Europe is locked in the big freeze.
Underlining commitment to defence
Armed with this information, word of Singapore's commitment to its
national defence will spread far and wide as Singapore Airshow
delegates pack up and head for home. The value of such awareness,
whispered in the corridors of Kementah in Kuala Lumpur, the
Pentagon, MODUK and elsewhere will do much to sell the message that
Singapore is serious about protecting its national interests.
So come Friday, it's a safe bet
that many plasma TV sets in the swanky chalets that ring the
airshow will be tuned to the "live" broadcast of Singaporean
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Tharman
Shanmugaratnam,
unveiling the Singaporean government's proposed fiscal
priorities and allocations.
For the Singapore
Airshow crowd, one highly anticipated budget item is the value of
the Defence budget.
For regular
visitors to this blog, no surprises are likely when it comes to
defence spending. Indeed, it would be news to us if the Singaporean
Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) had its budget clipped from the
S$12.08 billion budgeted for national defence in FY 2011/12. The
figure for FY 2010/11 amounted to some S$11.46 billion
Singapore Airshow
delegates from overseas bemoaning the strength of the Singapore
dollar vis-a-vis their home currencies will realise the sum for
MINDEF/SAF is a hefty commitment by this tiny nation.
Defence spending
is likely to claim the lion's share of national spending (30% of
the national budget) because Singapore has made it abundantly clear
a feast or famine approach to defence spending is not the way to
guarantee the island's security.
Instead, the mission of the Ministry of
Defence (MINDEF) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is realised by
financial contributions capped at 6% of Singapore's Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). As the city state's GDP crept past S$300 billion in
2010, table napkin calculations show that MINDEF and the SAF are
working well within the budget cap.
If
anything, there is ample room for growth.
Reference
customer
Makers of war machines and other defence
equipment are likely to keep their ears tuned to that magic Defence
budget figure in the hope of enjoying spinoffs as MINDEF/SAF renews
its arsenal.
Singapore's military procurement priorities in
coming years - which need not necessarily fall within the scope of
the FY 2012/13 work year - include but are not limited
to:
-
Fast landing craft for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) capable
of embarking Leopard 2SG-class main battle
tanks
-
Renewal of the RSN's maritime patrol aircraft
fleet
- A
replacement for the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) C-130
Hercules fleet
-
Reappraisal of the size and composition of the RSAF fighter force
after the F-5S/T Tiger II fighter jets are stood
down
- A
medium-lift helicopter to replace Super Puma and
Cougars
- A
dedicated CSAR bird
-
Sensors and hardstandings for an air defence system that can also
track and engage tube/rocket artillery ordnance
The SAF is also
likely to continue committing combat or combat support forces to
selected overseas deployments, provided such commitments can be
made within the SAF's defence readiness calendar - already heavily
populated with critical force development items that will see the
SAF train with one foreign armed forces every week throughout the
year.
The world's arms
industry will be angling for contracts as the republic's war chest
is revealed this Friday.
In
addition, Singapore's no-nonsense approach to weapons purchases
makes it a valued reference customer.
Defence companies
that count the SAF as a customer enjoy bragging rights for having
successfully aced an evaluation process known (or notorious, as the
case may be) industry-wide for its technical competence,
thoroughness in defining specifications, mile-high tender
documentation and rigor in field trials.
Having gone through the washing machine,
defence companies that come up tops after being made to draft and
rewrite documentation that can amount to hundreds of pages can say,
hand on heart, that they are better armed to tackle less-rigorous
procurement processes in other parts of the
globe.
All
the guesswork about the level and size of Singapore's commitment to
its national defence will be answered when the Budget Statement is
tabled. If you've not made a note to self about this announcement,
do it now.
You may also like to
read:
The
best customers. Please click here.
Upcoming commentaries this
week:
Hits
and misses by the Singapore defence industry
The
aerial display: A leading indicator of the RSAF's
wish-list?