Singapore is expected to increase its involvement in the United States-led F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) programme which includes the US, Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, Italy, the Netherlands, Norwayand Turkey, to develop a new multi-role fighter with stealthcapabilities. According to industry sources, Singapore should, in amonth or so, join the multinational programme as a security cooperationparticipant.
In return for an undisclosedfinancial contribution, it will gain access to more frequent anddetailed updates on the programme's progress than is available tocountries not involved with the programme.
Singapore's decision to get more involved in the F-35 programmecomes a year after the Defence Ministry signed a letter of intent toparticipate. Last February, Mindef said the plane was 'a potentialcandidate' to meet the air force's 'longer-term requirements for a multi-role fighter'.
