Use of VTOL aircraft by RSAF

Sardaukar SG

Has the RSAF given thought to procuring VTOL capable or STVOL capable aircraft?
Having such aircraft would certainly give a boost to the RSAFs capabilities,as it would allow them to operate from a wider range of conditions,and given our urban areas full of high rise buildings,there would certainly be enough spots to use as makeshift airfields if our air bases were taken out.

Currently,are there any aircraft that can fulfill this role besides the aging Harrier as a combat aircraft?

sidestep1984 SG

no other aircraft other than the harrier...unless u want the osprey...anywaes...theres a russian version but aint even close to the harrier...gotta wait till the F-35 is up and running i guess...

tankee1981 SG

This will be a very important asset to have as we can still launch fighter aircraft if our emergency and normal runways are hit. In land-scarce Singapore, we don't have much straight roads long enough to begin with.With VSTOL aircraft we can even fly from top of multi-storey carparks! Very Happy

sbst275 SG

Why not the future F-35?

kopiosatu SG

and nobody has given thought on the logistics and money Rolling Eyes

SpecOps87 SG

Well,the VTOL/STOL aircrafts like the AV-8B Harrier though may seem practical in a urban confines like Singapore,but the payload that each aircraft can carry is limited if they wanna take off vertically,and that if its using its STOL capability,more weapon load may be more.Besides,such aircraft are fuel guzzlers.

deathscythe99 SG

We might as well have a Gundam instead Rolling Eyes Twisted Evil

sidestep1984 SG

http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/yak-38_forger.pl
The worlds second VSTOL aircraft....

storywolf SG

the problem is planes that that Vtol have very limited range and payload , limited speed , thus very restricted in role.

With the current technology, it is very hard to take out any runway, as with modern machinces, run way can be easy patch back up. Also new generation aircraft use shorter runway.

fkh SG

Russian version is Yak-38. This VTOL is seen on MINSK and KIEV light aircraft carrier.. It is inferior to Harrier in terms of armanent and maveuourity.

I hope RSAF consider buying Harriers but Harriers are not suitable for air defence and air superiority role.

gary1910 SG

If we really need a STOVL a/c.

F-35B is the one to go for. Period.

tankee1981 SG

There is this new VSTOL fighter plane(Yak-141 Freestyle) from the Russians whom even the designers of the JSF (VSTOL) also consult. The plane looks better ,at least better than the YAK-38. Very Happy

Pictures of Yak-38 Forger:
http://www.russian.ee/~star/air/russia/jak-38.html

Pictures of Yak-141 Freestyle:
http://www.aerospaceweb.org/aircraft/fighter/yak141/

ditzy SG

Until the f-35 is out, vtol aircraft remain subsonic. Laughing

tankee1981 SG

The Yak-141 is the 1st VSTOL fighter capable of supersonic flight as stated in the website which i have provided earlier. Very Happy