S'pore to receive its first F-15 jet soon

Airforceone SG

Teh Joo Lin
Fri, May 30, 2008
The Straits Times

SINGAPORE is expected to take delivery of its first F-15 Eagle fighter early next year, said a senior Boeing Company official on Friday.

'The F-15SGs are in production and we hope to have the first one rolled out in November this year.

'Singapore will take delivery of the first one early next year,' said Mr Jim Albaugh, the president and chief executive of Boeing Integrated Defense Systems.

Mr Albaugh, who is here to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, told reporters that the production was 'coming along very well.

Singapore has ordered 24 F-15SGs, the latest variant of the all-weather, multi-role fighter that has chalked up an impressive combat record of 101 victories and zero losses around the globe.

The twin-seat fighters are being assembled at Boeing's F-15 production plant in St Louis, Missouri, in the United States.

Some of the aircraft will be stationed at a US base in Mountain Home, Idaho, where the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) pilots and ground crew will be trained.

The purchase of the advanced strike jets was announced in 2005 after the defence and aviation giant beat rivals in the US, Russia and Europe.

Bionic Animals SG

I can wait to see them flying over our skies. Many eyes will see big big.

stellazio SG

i personally know some of the pilots that will be heading over to train for the new F15's. although i'm doubtful that i will get to see it before i ord.

duotiga83 SG

will it be overall grey scheme or......?????

arball SG

most likely be based at plab or changi rite?

damn. i can only see tengah craft from here

stellazio SG

its plab. if it comes in 2009 which it won't, i'll most probably be posted to that new squadron..haiz..

Zooish SG

There's no way the F15s will arrive in SG in 2009. More like after 2010. Conversion of the pilots haven't even start yet.

The planes will stay in Mountain Home for at least a year or 2.

wonderamazement SG

then 2010 NDP... i guess they'll be doing the Bombburst thing...

rokkie SG

F15,is out of date ,is it/?

Zooish SG

then 2010 NDP... i guess they'll be doing the Bombburst thing...

NDP 2011 or later more likely.

Zooish SG

F15,is out of date ,is it/?

F15 itself is not a new model, been in service for almost 20 years. The ones we getting F15SG will be an upgraded platform of the original.

In any case, the F15s are an interim fighter to fill the gap caused by the drawdown of A4 and impending drawdown of F5.

Sepecat SG

F15SG is the latest variant of 1970s fighter design philosophy.

Still a great aircraft for long range strike - outdos the A4 and F16 by a large margin.

Fallen_Heaven SG

should have gone for the F35A. but doubt that we can buy. highly sensitive ...

Shotgun SG

F15 itself is not a new model, been in service for almost 20 years. The ones we getting F15SG will be an upgraded platform of the original.

In any case, the F15s are an interim fighter to fill the gap caused by the drawdown of A4 and impending drawdown of F5.

Its not an interim fighter at all in a sense. The F-15SG is built brand new off the factory lines, and equipped with very advanced avionics and weapons systems. What we recieved from the deal puts us ahead of the qualitative lead in terms of regional airpower.

stellazio SG

should have gone for the F35A. but doubt that we can buy. highly sensitive ...

i doubt they'll even sell the raptors..

Fallen_Heaven SG

mmm. I think they would to staunch US Allies. but even then.. the F35B should be for the RSN but we do not have any aircraft carriers. wth is that?

LazerLordz SG

should have gone for the F35A. but doubt that we can buy. highly sensitive ...

Sensitive?

Dude, we're a Security Cooperation Participant in the F-35 program since 2003. Our configuration, together with Israel's, will be the first two export variants ready.

The only concern is the final flyaway cost and the amount we will eventually get.

LazerLordz SG

mmm. I think they would to staunch US Allies. but even then.. the F35B should be for the RSN but we do not have any aircraft carriers. wth is that?

The F-35A is the version most likely we'll be getting.

Shotgun SG

I'd agree that the F-35A would be a better aircraft than the STOVL F-35B. It will have better internal payload capacity and range as well.

But you have to admit, STOVL capability would be a very big bonus should we end up closing air bases to make room for non-military infrastructure expansion. Not to mention the F-35s being able to land in Sembawang AB as well. =D

sgf SG

What's with the obssession over carriers? We'd probably need to canabalise every ship in our fleet and still not have enough men to operate the carrier. Look what happened to Thailand. Their carrier is now rusting somewhere and has become a tourist attraction.

From what I understand from other threads here, the F-35 would be a watered down version, not what the yanks themselves would be operating. That being the case, I hope RSAF considers other jets too.