Singapore is known for having some of the world’s most advanced military equipment, with key suppliers from the United States, Israel, and various Western nations. But how much does Singapore rely on each country for its military purchases? Is the U.S. the main source, or does Israel, a country that many are boycotting today, play a larger role? Let’s take a closer look.
Starting with the Air Force, Singapore’s Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) heavily depends on Western equipment. Their main fighter jets, the F-15SG and various models of the F-16, are both from the United States. The F-16, produced by Lockheed Martin, is considered one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world.
Singapore also uses helicopters from Europe. One of these is the AS332M/M1 Super Puma, a medium-lift helicopter originally developed by the French aerospace company Aérospatiale, which is now part of Airbus Helicopters. Another important helicopter in the fleet is the AH-64D Apache Longbow, made by the American company Boeing.
For training purposes, the RSAF uses the M-346 advanced jet trainer, developed by Italy’s Alenia Aermacchi. The M-346 is used by multiple countries, including Italy, Israel, Singapore, and Poland, and is highly regarded for its performance in training pilots for modern air combat.
When it comes to transport, the RSAF employs a variety of aircraft from Western companies. For example, the Fokker-50 UTA/MPA, a multi-role aircraft, is produced by the Dutch manufacturer Fokker.
Singapore’s unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are also notable. The RSAF operates the Hermes 450 and the Heron 1, both developed by Israeli companies. However, as part of its modernization efforts, Singapore plans to replace these UAVs in the near future.
In terms of air defense, the RSAF uses the SPYDER missile system from Israel, designed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Another key missile system in their arsenal is the Aster 30, a surface-to-air missile developed by a French-Italian partnership.
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is similarly advanced. One of their flagship vessels is the Formidable-class frigate, built in collaboration with French defense contractor DCNS. The Independence-class littoral mission vessels, however, were built locally by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine. This marks a significant step in Singapore’s ability to produce military equipment domestically.
The RSN also operates Invincible-class submarines, custom-built by the German company ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems. For missile defense, the navy uses the Barak missile system, a joint project between Israel and India, and the Harpoon missile, an anti-ship missile from the United States.
The Singapore Army is unique in that it has developed more of its own equipment compared to the other branches. The Hunter Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV) is one such example, produced by Singapore Technologies Kinetics. This next-generation vehicle replaced the older M113 Ultra armored vehicle. Another key piece of equipment is the Bionix infantry fighting vehicle, also developed locally and in service since 1999.
The army’s artillery includes the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 (SSPH 1) Primus, a highly advanced system that can fire up to six rounds per minute with a range of 30 kilometers. It was jointly developed by the Singapore Armed Forces, Defence Science and Technology Agency, and Singapore Technologies Kinetics.
In summary, while Singapore acquires much of its military equipment from Western countries, particularly the United States and Israel, it has increasingly developed its own defense capabilities. The trend suggests that Singapore is moving towards self-sufficiency in military production, potentially reducing its reliance on foreign imports in the future.