SG is not just considered Reference Customer in
international
arms market.She is also well known as a second hand buyer.
Never mind SG top in foreign reserve per capita
Many 2 nd hand major platforms were built 30 years and above.
So,what is the next major platform SG will buy second hand?
I put the following images.
2
.For example, our A4 Skyhawks first came into operational
service in refurbished condition in 1974. The
Skyhawks subsequently underwent an engine and avionics upgrade in
the late 1980s. When they retire from operational service recently,
the Skyhawks had served the RSAF for 30 years.
We replaced them with smaller numbers of more modern
fighters.
The SM1 tanks which are now being gradually retired, were bought as
second-hand AMX 13 tanks from various countries in the late
1960s and refurbished. In the late 1980s they were
upgraded to the SM1 standard and only now are we beginning to phase
them out after over 40 years in the SAF. We have close to some 300
SM1s. We are replacing the first batch of the SM1s with the
refurbished Leopard 2A4. We recently bought 66, with 30 spare
tanks, from German Army stocks. We will replace the remainder in
the coming years. But not on one-for-one basis as the Leopards are
more capable.
Certain prime equipment that the SAF uses are also refurbished,
e.g. our KC 135 tankers which have been deployed several times to
the Gulf are refurbished tanks from US Armed Forces.
Our Challenger class submarines as well as the Vastergotland class
subs we have contracted for are refurbished.
Challenger class Sub were built 40 years
ago.
MINDEF is mindful of its responsibility to spend wisely,
and buy equipment carefully. We only buy what we need, and what is
most suitable and cost-effective for us. We buy very
sophisticated and highly capable equipment, but only when it is
needed. Often we don't need to buy the latest piece of
equipment, when upgrading or refurbishing can do the job.
When we replace older equipment with more modern ones, we often
don't need to replace them on a one-for-one basis
---http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2007/mar/05mar07_nr.html
2.It is very hard NOT to spend $$$ when u have billion in
pocket.
Buy not SG!!
