The 2026 edition of the Singapore Airshow has concluded with one message resonating clearly across the tarmac and conference halls: fifth-generation airpower is no longer a future aspiration in the Indo-Pacific—it is a present-day reality. Among the most closely watched aircraft at the show was the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, flown in by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) as the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) prepares to receive its first F-35B short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) fighters by the end of the year.
The appearance of the F-35 at Southeast Asia’s premier aerospace exhibition was not merely a static display or demonstration of flight performance. It served as a visible marker of how deeply integrated the stealth fighter has become in the regional security architecture being shaped by the United States and its allies, particularly in response to China’s rapidly expanding fleet of advanced combat aircraft.
Australia’s decision to deploy an operational F-35A to Singapore underscored its status as the largest F-35 operator in the Pacific region and the second largest globally after the United States. The RAAF currently fields 72 F-35A conventional takeoff and landing variants, which have become the backbone of Australia’s combat air force following the retirement of its classic F/A-18 Hornets.
For Singapore, the Australian presence carried symbolic and practical significance. The RSAF is on the cusp of a generational leap in capability as it awaits the delivery of its first F-35Bs, which will introduce stealth technology and fifth-generation avionics into its fleet for the first time. The city-state joined the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) program in 2003, positioning itself early within the international partnership that has since grown to include 19 allied nations.
Singapore’s procurement plan currently includes 12 F-35B STOVL fighters, complemented by eight F-35A variants added to the order in 2024. Together, they will replace the RSAF’s aging fleet of General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons, which have served as the backbone of Singapore’s air defense for decades but face growing limitations against modern air defense systems and stealth-equipped adversaries.
While the F-35 is often described primarily in terms of low observability, RSAF officials have repeatedly emphasized that the acquisition is about far more than radar cross-section reduction. The Lightning II will become the first platform in Singapore’s inventory equipped with fully integrated fifth-generation avionics, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare capabilities.
At the core of the F-35’s value proposition is its ability to act as an airborne sensor and data node. Advanced radar, electro-optical targeting systems, electronic warfare suites, and distributed aperture sensors are fused into a single operational picture that can be shared in real time with allied aircraft, naval vessels, ground forces, and command centers. This networked approach allows friendly forces to detect, identify, and engage targets long before an adversary is aware it has been observed.
The aircraft’s ability to interface with uncrewed systems and cooperative weapon networks further enhances its “first-look, first-shot” advantage. In modern combat scenarios, this capability is increasingly decisive, particularly in contested environments saturated with surface-to-air missiles and electronic warfare threats.
Singapore’s decision to prioritize the F-35B variant reflects its unique geographic constraints. With limited landmass and few traditional air bases, the RSAF has long focused on survivability and dispersal as core defense principles. The STOVL capability of the F-35B provides a level of operational flexibility unmatched by conventional fighters.
In a crisis or high-intensity conflict, F-35Bs can operate from short, austere runways, including reinforced sections of public roads prepared for emergency use. This significantly complicates enemy targeting plans and enhances Singapore’s ability to sustain air operations even if primary bases are degraded or attacked.
The vertical landing capability also aligns with emerging concepts of distributed operations across the Indo-Pacific, where survivability depends on mobility, deception, and rapid relocation rather than reliance on a small number of fixed installations.
Singapore’s commitment to the F-35 program was further underlined in September 2025, when Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing visited Lockheed Martin’s production facility in Fort Worth, Texas. During the visit, he observed progress on the RSAF’s aircraft currently on the assembly line and met with representatives from Lockheed Martin, the U.S. government, and the broader JSF partnership.
“This is not just a milestone, but one step in a long journey that we will take together with LM, the U.S. government, and the community,” Chan said at the time. “Every one of us needs to come together in order for this capability to be realized.”
The remarks highlighted the depth of Singapore’s integration into the F-35 ecosystem, which extends beyond aircraft delivery to include training pipelines, sustainment networks, software upgrades, and shared operational concepts with allied forces.
The true strategic impact of Singapore’s F-35 acquisition becomes evident when viewed in a regional context. Alongside Australia’s 72 aircraft, Japan’s rapidly expanding fleet is set to become the largest F-35 force outside the United States. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) has ordered 105 F-35As and 42 F-35Bs, with the latter intended to operate from modified Izumo-class helicopter carriers.
South Korea adds another major pillar to this network, with the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) planning to operate 60 F-35A fighters. Combined, U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific are on track to field approximately 299 F-35s across multiple variants, creating a dense web of interoperable stealth platforms.
This level of commonality allows for shared tactics, standardized data links, and seamless integration during joint operations. An F-35 operated by Singapore can exchange targeting data with Australian, Japanese, South Korean, or U.S. aircraft almost instantaneously, effectively turning national fleets into a single, distributed combat system.
The United States remains the anchor of this regional airpower architecture. The U.S. Air Force maintains a continuous presence in Japan and South Korea through rotational deployments of F-35A squadrons, while the U.S. Marine Corps operates expeditionary F-35B units from bases in Japan.
At sea, the U.S. Navy fields the F-35C carrier variant aboard aircraft carriers permanently forward-deployed to Japan. These carrier strike groups provide mobile fifth-generation airpower capable of projecting force across the Western Pacific, reinforcing allied deterrence while remaining difficult to track and target.
Together, U.S. and allied F-35 operations create what defense planners describe as “persistent, multi-domain pressure,” complicating any attempt by a potential adversary to achieve local air superiority.
The rapid buildup of fifth-generation aircraft in the Pacific is driven largely by developments within China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) and Navy (PLAN). The Chengdu J-20 “Mighty Dragon,” China’s first operational stealth fighter, is now estimated to number more than 300 aircraft, making it the second-largest fifth-generation fleet in the world.
The J-20 is believed to be optimized for long-range interception and air dominance missions, with a particular focus on targeting high-value assets such as aerial refueling tankers, airborne early warning aircraft, and command-and-control platforms. By threatening these enablers, China aims to degrade the operational reach and effectiveness of U.S. and allied forces in the region.
At sea, attention is increasingly turning to the Shenyang J-35, a carrier-capable stealth fighter expected to enter service with the PLAN in the near future. Designed to operate from China’s growing fleet of aircraft carriers, the J-35 represents a significant step in Beijing’s effort to extend airpower into contested maritime spaces.
China’s expanding stealth fleet complements a broader pattern of assertive behavior in disputed waters across the Pacific. PLAN vessels and maritime militia units have repeatedly engaged in close encounters with international navies and commercial shipping, actions often described by analysts as “gray zone” operations—aggressive enough to intimidate, but calibrated to avoid open conflict.
Advanced aircraft like the J-20 and J-35 provide a powerful backdrop to these activities, reinforcing China’s claims and signaling its ability to escalate rapidly if challenged. Against this backdrop, the deployment of interoperable F-35 fleets by the U.S. and its allies serves as both a deterrent and a stabilizing force.
The scale of the F-35 program itself adds another layer of strategic significance. Total production of the aircraft is expected to approach 3,000 airframes, spread across multiple branches of the U.S. military and a growing list of allied operators. No other fifth-generation fighter program approaches this level of global adoption.
For proponents, this vast, shared fleet represents a form of collective security—an interconnected network of advanced platforms that raises the cost of aggression and strengthens deterrence without requiring formal alliance expansion. For critics, it underscores the deepening technological divide between rival blocs.
For Singapore, the F-35 represents a calculated investment in long-term security. As a small state in a strategically sensitive location, the country has consistently prioritized qualitative military advantages over numerical strength. By integrating stealth, advanced sensors, and networked warfare into its air force, Singapore aims to maintain a credible deterrent in an increasingly complex regional environment.
As the first RSAF F-35Bs prepare for delivery later this year, the aircraft’s presence at the 2026 Singapore Airshow offered a glimpse of what lies ahead—not just for Singapore, but for the evolving balance of airpower across the Indo-Pacific. In that sense, the Lightning II’s appearance was less about spectacle and more about signaling a new normal, where fifth-generation interoperability is the foundation of regional security rather than its cutting edge.
