Originally posted by nWo:
Source: Radio Singapore International
[b]Pentagon announces possible fighter aircraft sale to
Singapore
August 23, 2005
Click to listen to interview
The Pentagon notified the US Congress yesterday of a possible sale
of F-15 fighter aircraft to Singapore.
The proposed deal, worth some 741 million dollars includes
air-to-air missiles , satellite guided bombs logistics and
training.
Boeing's F-15 fighter jet is vying with the French-made Rafale to
replace Singapore's Super Skyhawk fighter jets.
When contacted by 938 Live, Singapore's Ministry of Defense said
that they are still in the process of selecting the appropriate
aircraft.
So how would the United States' benefit from its proposed aircraft
and weapons sale to Singapore?
Melanie Yip put this question to Dr Paul Mitchell, Visiting Senior
Fellow at the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies in
Singapore.
PM: Well, essentially any time one of the United States'
partners buys a significant piece of military technology like a
fighter weapon system, like a ship or like a tank, it enables the
United States to inter-operate with that nation in a much more
efficient fashion. Obviously, it is in the United States' interest
to see as many of partners and allies around the world operate with
American weapons systems, so that if they are operating in the
region, in terms of strict military operations, exercises or any
other humanitarian operations, it is far more effective for the
Americans to work with those forces. So this is part and parcel of
that strategy irrespective of the industrial benefits that accrue
to the Americans, there are significant operational benefits that
are accrued to it when they work with American weapons
systems.
And as you talk about the issue of interoperability with the US
forces for coalition operations, how does the North Korea proposed
nuclear weapons program issue factor into the US' proposed weapons
and aircraft sales?
PM: I'm not sure that there is a strict relationship
between the decision to go with the F-15 variant here. However, it
does bear some interesting examples. In particular, the Koreans are
operating a variant of the F-15 or will be operating a variant of
the F-15 in the future. [u][b]And
obviously, if Singapore were to become involved in the conflict on
the Korean Peninsula, in support of American and Korean security,
then it would be in a much better position to contribute in a more
significant fashion to air operations.[/u]
[/b]
Under the proposed weapons and aircraft transaction with Singapore
by the United States, some of the weapons included in the sale are
Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, Joint Direct Attack
Munition, Joint Standoff Weapons etc. Under what circumstances are
these defense mechanisms of the weapons used?
PM: The types of weapons that are being acquired, or being
under discussions of being acquired, in particular the Joint Direct
Attack Munition and the Joint Standoff Weapons are both long range,
precision guided munitions, and in particular, the AGM 154A Joint
Standoff Weapon is one which drops multiple bomblets out of it. So
it is extremely useful in taking out large concentrations of troops
and armor. [b]So this is an important
contribution, from Singapore's part, if it found itself working
with the United States and the Koreans in any sort of contingency
within Korea. [/b]
How will the proposed transaction of weapons and aircraft to
Singapore by the United States contribute to the Republic's efforts
in maintaining both aviation and maritime security in the Malacca
Straits?
PM: Well, the types of systems that we are talking about
here in terms of the F-15, the Joint Standoff Weapons, the Joint
Direct Attack Munitions probably will not have a direct role in
contributing the recent agreement signed by Singapore, Indonesia
and Malaysia. In that respect, the current weapons system such as
the E2 Hawk Eyes that Singapore operates in terms of control of air
space would be far more effective in maintaining aviation security.
It is possible that an F-15 might be used to investigate suspicious
air contact and ultimately may shoot it down, but in that respect,
the F-16s would also be contributing to that particular
contingency. And the types of weapons that we're looking at is that
Singapore is looking to acquiring with the F-15s at the moment
probably would not be the ones used to shoot down any aviation
threats, maybe except the AIM 9X sidewinders. Again, a lot of these
things are hitting the fly with a very large hammer, there are more
effective ways in terms of providing aviation security. Obviously,
these things all help, but with the economy of resources, it is
more likely that the air force would choose to deploy other assets
in contributing to that particular mission.
Dr Paul Mitchell from at the Institute of Defense and Strategic
Studies in Singapore. He was speaking with Melanie Yip.
[/b]
Who is this Dr Paul Mitchell talking about SG getting involveg
in the Korean conflict . 
.
