Singapore to acquire eight F-35A fighter jets from US
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will acquire eight F-35A fighter aircraft, complementing the previously announced purchase of 12 F-35Bs, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Wednesday.
An F-35A fighter jet manufactured by Lockheed Martin. Photo by VNA.
If the parliament approves the budget, the jets, made by US manufacturer Lockheed Martin, will arrive in Singapore around 2030, he said.
Minister Ng stressed that F-35 variants have different strengths that will bolster the RSAF’s capabilities, elaborating they are designed for greater endurance and have the ability to carry payloads of higher capacity.
Together with F-15SGs which attained full operational capability in 2013, the air force will have a fleet that is able to perform the full suite of missions required to defend Singapore’s skies.
Last year, the Singaporean Defence Ministry announced its decision to buy eight F-35Bs after an initial purchase of four ones in 2020. Delivery of the first four F-35Bs is expected in 2026 and the other eight in 2028.
They will replace the RSAF’s ageing F-16 jets, which have been in service since 1998. Several F-16s have progressively been upgraded with modern sensors and weaponry to keep them operationally ready until the mid-2030s.
Singapore is an important customer of weapon companies in the world in the context that the Southeast Asian is investing in new technologies and upgrade military equipment. The country’s defence budget for this financial year is SGD20.2 billion ($15 billion), up 2.5% from the previous year.
- Read More
Rixos debuts in Southeast Asia on Vietnam’s 'Pearl Island'
A new chapter in travel is unfolding in Southeast Asia as Rixos Hotels, the world’s leading all-inclusive brand, prepares to unveil its first-ever resort in the region.
Travel - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 6:48 pm GMT+7
Vietnam’s biggest airport project ‘races to the finish line’
The Ministry of Construction has requested investors of the Long Thanh International Airport to complete the main route by August 2025 to facilitate trial operations of the passenger terminal and other components.
Infrastructure - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 6:19 pm GMT+7
Singapore's YCH Group eyes developing logistics center in southern Vietnam economic zone
Tay Ninh province has pledged full support to Singapore’s YCH Group in developing a logistics center within its Moc Bai Border Gate Economic Zone.
Industries - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 1:48 pm GMT+7
Vietnam PM asks US firms to sustain support for 'reasonable, detailed tariff pact'
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called on U.S. businesses to continue supporting the Vietnamese government in dialogues with U.S. agencies to soon reach "a reasonable, detailed tariff agreement for individual products and product groups".
Economy - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 11:32 am GMT+7
Mergers of Vietnamese provinces unlock new property development opportunities
The merging of Vietnamese localities is expected to create a strong "boost" for the real estate market as expanded planning space, synchronized infrastructure, and new land reserves are key factors driving the market's transformation.
Real Estate - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 11:00 am GMT+7
Measures proposed for Thailand to minimize US tariff impacts
Financial and banking experts in Thailand have warned that the U.S.'s proposed 36% tariff on Thai goods is likely to severely undermine Thailand's export competitiveness.
Southeast Asia - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 9:06 am GMT+7
Chinese construction major PCG eyes $383 mln underwater tunnel project in northern Vietnam
Pacific Construction Group (PCG), one of China’s leading construction firms, has expressed interest in developing a VND10 trillion ($383 million) underwater road tunnel in Quang Ninh, a coastal province in northern Vietnam.
Infrastructure - Sat, July 12, 2025 | 8:04 am GMT+7
Vingroup stocks pull VN-Index up for sixth consecutive session
VN-Index, which represents the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, on Friday increased for the sixth consecutive session thanks to large-cap stocks, with foreign investors continuing to strongly net buy.
Finance - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 7:20 pm GMT+7
Coca-Cola inaugurates largest-scale Vietnam factory in Tay Ninh province
Coca-Cola Beverages Vietnam on Friday inaugurated a $136 million factory in Tay Ninh province, the largest-scale among its four facilities in Vietnam.
Industries - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 5:27 pm GMT+7
Vietnam halts use of German ODA loans for HCMC metro line
The Government has approved a proposal by Ho Chi Minh City to stop borrowing official development assistance (ODA) loans from Germany’s KfW development bank for Metro Line No. 2 and instead use domestic funds to avoid further delays.
Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:25 pm GMT+7
Seventeen housing projects foreigners allowed to buy in HCMC
Ho Chi Minh City has announced a list of 17 residential projects located in areas where foreign organizations and individuals are allowed to own houses.
Real Estate - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 3:17 pm GMT+7
Auto enterprises to enjoy preferential import tariff policies
The Government has issued a decree amending and supplementing Decree No. 26/2023/ND-CP on the export and preferential import tariff schedules, as well as the lists of goods subject to absolute tax, mixed tax, and out-of-quota import duties.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:13 pm GMT+7
Korean chaebol Samsung’s revenue makes up 13% of Vietnam’s GDP in 2024
Samsung’s revenue and export in Vietnam accounted for approximately 13.12% of the country’s GDP and 13.4% of its total export turnover in 2024, respectively, according to the National Statistics Office.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 2:09 pm GMT+7
JPMorgan upgrades Vietnam stocks to overweight following US tariff deal
JPMorgan Chase has upgraded Vietnam stocks to overweight after the country became the first Southeast Asian nation to reach a preliminary tariff deal with the U.S.
Economy - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 11:38 am GMT+7
Vietnam government bond issuance surges nearly 70% in June
The Hanoi Stock Exchange (HNX) held 16 government bond auctions in June, raising nearly VND30.5 trillion ($1.2 billion), up 68.8% from May.
Finance - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:30 am GMT+7
Xuan Truong Company asked to make feasibility study for airport proposal in northern Vietnam
The Ministry of Construction has asked Ninh Binh authorities to prepare a feasibility study on the potential development of an international airport in the province, the ministry said in a report submitted to the Government regarding a proposal from private construction company Xuan Truong.
Companies - Fri, July 11, 2025 | 9:18 am GMT+7
