By Thai Newsroom Reporters
THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE’S F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters are currently engaging in an air exercise with Singapore’s F-15SG Eagle fighters and F-16 Fighting Falcon jets in air space over southern perimeters of the South China Sea.
According to an air force source, eight Lockheed Martin F-35As of the US air force and squadrons of Boeing F-15SGs and Lockheed Martin F-16C/Ds of Singapore as a major US treaty ally are on a joint fighter training course scheduled between Mar. 1 and Mar. 7.
The exact air space over the southern perimeters of the tension-filled South China Sea being the airborne venue of the US and Singapore joint air exercise could not be available to disclose at the moment, however.
Singapore has reportedly planned to buy eight F-35As after the island republic has already placed a purchase order for a dozen F-35Bs.
The US air force’s F-35As are scheduled to take part in a Cope Tiger 2024 exercise with the Thai air force scheduled between Mar. 18 and Mar. 29.
The joint exercise will be conducted at Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Wing 2 in Lopburi and Wing 23 in Udon Thani.
Taking part in the Cope Tiger joint exercise which had begun since 1983, albeit under a different name, will be the Thai air force’s F-16A/B and F-16ADF fighter jets, among other combat aircraft.
Thailand’s chances of procuring a squadron of F-35As look very slim, thus prompting the Southeast Asian country, viewed as another US ally in the Indo-Pacific region, to buy either the Lockheed Martin F-16 Block 70/72 fighter or Saab JAS 39E Gripen fighter.
Nevertheless, the price tags between the two rival jets look widely different with the F-16 Block 70/72’s flyaway cost currently reported at about US$63 million and the JAS 39E’s flyaway cost at about US$85 million, the air force source said.
CAPTIONS:
Top: The United States Pacific Air Forces’ F-35A fighter jet lands at Singapore’s Paya Lebar Air Base. Photo: Singapore Ministry of Defence
Front Page: Two F-35s bank after receiving fuel over the Midwest on Sept. 19, 2019. Photo: Master Sgt. Ben Mota, US Air Force, and published by Defensenews.com
Also read: Singapore buys eight F-35A fighters in addition to 12 F-35B jets
US cautions after Hawaii neighbour Kiribati gets Chinese police
Air force seeks 19 billion baht in funding for new fighters
US offers faster 4.5-generation F-16 fighter jets to Thailand
US puts off sale of F-35A fighters: Air force source
Another couple of Russian-built Su-30 fighters arrive in Myanmar
3 starboard torpedo tubes retrieved from sunken ship
PM leads “Peace Through Tourism” visit to South Thailand
Thaksin most politically powerful person: NIDA poll
Yingluck would probably return home after August 22: Ex-MP
Supreme Court clears Yingluck in negligence case
Graft-busters not sending case against Big Joke back to police
