Singapore Airshow

Aircraft model display showing almost all the manned aircraft types in service with the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). A good mix of high end fighters, helicopters and support aircraft, as  well as force multipliers in form of tankers and AEW. 

See if you can identify these aircraft - F-15SG, F-5S, F-16C, F-16D+, M-346, KC-135R, C-130, F50, G550 AEW, CH-47SD, AH-64D, S-70B, AS332M, EC-120.

Guess which manned aircraft is not represented? 

Singapore Airshow: US Marines F-35 Combat Ready

Lieutenant-General Jon Davis, Deputy Commandant for Aviation,  HQ Marine Corps, declared that the Marines' F-35B are combat ready despite various reports criticising the performance of the troubled aircraft.

“We have developed workarounds to get around any deficiencies we have seen out there. Right now, operating capabilities and advantage we get from this airplane far outweigh any deficiencies.”

“We are operating the airplane, training in the airplane, making us ready to deploy to the Pacific.”

The US Marine Corps will be deploying one of their first F-35B unit to Japan in January 2017. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan within a year. VFMA-121 “Green Knights,” was declared Full Operationally Capable in August 2015. It is currently operating from Yuma AZ and is scheduled for rotatio to Marine Corps Air StationIwakuni. An initial deployment of pilots alongside 10 aircraft will be relocated first , with another six scheduled for July 2017.

Full-scale mock up of the F-35 Lightning II at the Singapore Airshow 2016

CNA

Bloomberg

Singapore Airshow Opens

The most important airshow in Asia run from 16 Feb to 21 Feb 2016 in Singapore. Visitors can view the F22 Raptor, F-15SG, Block 52 F-16C in the Black Knight aerobatic team colors, Block 52 F-16D+, F-18F, G550 Airborne Early Warning, AH-64D Apache attack helicopter, MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, A-400M transport, C-17 Globemaster, just to name some of the aircraft on static display. In the air, the Royal Malaysian Air Force Su-30 amazes with its aerobatics alongside the Rafale, F-16, F-15SG, AH-64D and T-50.

OSMINT will be highlighting some of the exhibits over the next few days.

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean speaking at the opening ceremony of the Singapore Airshow

US Pacific Command Mull Basing of Logistics Support Vessels in Singapore

The Pacific Command want to base some of its Logistics Support Vessels (LSVs) in Singapore by late 2016 or early 2017.

The LSV is essentially the equivalent of a navy landing ship but operated by the US Army. It is a heavy watercraft used for transportation of personnel, equipment and supplies.

Currently, the United States is allowed to rotate up to four of her Littoral Combat Ships to operate from Singapore. A P-8A Maritime Patrol Aircraft was also deployed to Singapore for a short detachment recently.

Photo of US Army LSV. Image from www.globalsecurity.org

CNA

Japanese Stealth Fighter Prototype Unveiled

Japan unveiled its first stealth fighter technology demonstrator - X-2 Shinshin. Previously known as the Mitsubshi ATD, the X-2 will make its maiden flight in Feb 2016. The X-2 may be the precusor to a new stealth fighter to be developed later as Japan will need to replace its existing F-15J and F-2 fighter around 2028.

The X-2 will have vector thrust paddles on the engine nozzles of the twin Ishikawa Heavy Industries low-bypass turbofan engines. The paddles will allow the pilot to control the direction of the exhaust, thereby increasing an aircraft's maneuverability tremendousy. The engine is a new design, each providing around five tons of thrust. The X-2 also has angled twin vertical stabilizers set at an even steeper angle, similarly to that initially proposed for the F-15 Silent Eagle. The angled stabilizers were later dropped from the stealth fighter proposal offered to South Korea. Boeing cited limited cost effectiveness as a reason for the change.

asia.nikkei.com

popular mechanics

Specialised Marine Craft - RSN's High Speed Interceptor

janes.com

Thailand Signs Contract for Second River Class Offshore Patrol Vessel

Shipbuilding company, Thailand Dock has signed a contract with BAE Systems to license build a 90 metre Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) for the Royal Thai Navy.  This will be second vessel of this type.  The first warship was commissioned as HTMS Krabi in 2013.

The 90 metres OPV is based on BAE Systems' 80 metres long River class vessel, three of which has been in the Royal Navy service since 2003. Three new OPVs are being built for the Royal Navy. The British Government has also committed to buy more OPVs. BAE Systems has also delivered to the Brazilian Navy, three OPVs between 2013 and 2014.


The Building of HTMS Krabi

Asian Defence Technology

Singapore Airshow: Bell Helicopter Eyeing Asian Government Market

Bell helicopters have been highly visible during disaster relief efforts around Asia - from the Fukushima nuclear crisis in Japan in 2011, to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines 2013, the Nepal earthquake in 2015 and fighting the 2015 Indonesia forest fires. So amid a drying up of demand for helicopter offshore oil and gas rigs, Bell Helicopter is eyeing more deals with government agencies such as law enforcement and fire fighters.

Bell will be displaying several aircraft models at the aircraft static display for the Singapore Airshow, including the Bell 407, Bell 429 and Bell 505. A Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey Tilt-Rotor Aircraft from the US Marines will be on display as well.

Ahead of the Official Singapore Airshow, Bell Helicopter says it is looking to sell more choppers to governments for disaster relief amid sliding demand for aircraft supporting offshore oil and gas rigs. Linette Lim with more: http://bit.ly/1maBsmC
Posted by Channel NewsAsia Singapore on Tuesday, February 2, 2016

CNA