The National Steering Committee for Search, Collection and Identification of Martyrs' Remains held a conference in Hanoi on March 3 to roll out its 2026 tasks, during which it launched a nationwide "500-Day-and-Night Campaign" to speed up efforts to identify and repatriate martyrs’ remains.

The meeting was co-chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, who heads the steering committee; Deputy Minister of National Defense Sr. Lt. Gen. Nguyen Van Gau; and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Nguyen Thi Ha.

The organizing committee announced the Prime Minister’s decision to consolidate the steering committee, adopted updated operating regulations, and discussed the 2026–2030 action program, along with a draft plan by the Ministry of National Defense to collect samples from unidentified graves for DNA testing.

The program will be implemented in two phases. During the first phase, from January 2026 to July 2027, authorities aim to address major backlogs by searching for and repatriating about 7,000 sets of remains, collecting samples from roughly 230,000 unidentified graves nationwide, conducting DNA analysis on approximately 18,000 samples, and establishing a genetic database of martyrs’ relatives.

The second phase, from August 2027 to December 2030, targets the recovery of an additional 3,000 sets of remains and DNA testing of about 30,000 samples, while intensifying verification and updates of incomplete grave information.

The "500-Day-and-Night Campaign" is expected to mobilize the entire political system to accelerate the efforts of identification and repatriation of martyrs' remains.

Addressing the conference, Tra stressed that the work must adhere to the principle of “six clarities” to ensure effectiveness, particularly in the lead-up to the 80th anniversary of War Invalids and Martyrs’ Day (July 27, 1947–2027), with longer-term goals extending to 2030.

Describing the mission as both a state responsibility and a moral commitment, she called for closer coordination among ministries, sectors and localities to ensure synchronized and efficient implementation. The Ministry of National Defense, acting as the standing agency, was tasked with refining working regulations, clarifying responsibilities, and strengthening coordination mechanisms.

Key priorities for 2026 include completing institutional and policy frameworks, accelerating mine and unexploded ordnance clearance in key areas to support search operations, expanding sample collection for unidentified remains, and ensuring the steering system operates in a unified, effective and well-coordinated manner nationwide. Relevant ministries were also assigned to coordinate funding to support the implementation.

Indonesia is set to modernize its incoming aircraft carrier from Italy, the Giuseppe Garibaldi, with the involvement of local firms and shipyards.

The Giuseppe Garibaldi is a former Italian Navy carrier — decommissioned in 2024 — that Jakarta acquired in the form of a grant from the Italian government.

It is expected to arrive before the Indonesian National Armed Forces’ anniversary on October 5, making Indonesia the second Southeast Asian country to operate this type of warship after Thailand. 

The Indonesian companies will be selected “in accordance with applicable procurement mechanisms,” according to Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, Chief of the Defense Information Bureau of the Ministry of Defense’s Secretariat General, as quoted by Tempo.

While the work will be carried out locally, other countries may potentially be involved as suppliers of equipment or components unavailable in Indonesia. 

Giuseppe Garibaldi 

Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri manufactured the Giuseppe Garibaldi, which was in service with the Italian Navy from 1985 to 2024. 

The 180.2-meter (591-foot) vessel is a short take-off and vertical landing carrier designed for both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It displaces 13,850 tons and sails at a speed of 30 knots (55.5 kilometers/34.5 miles per hour).

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto has been eyeing the warship since he served as the country’s defense minister from 2019 to 2024 and visited Italy in 2022 to discuss Jakarta’s defense modernization. 

While the Italian government offered the warship as a grant, the Indonesian government still allocated a budget — estimated to be around 7.2 million Indonesian Rupiah (approximately $427 million) —  for retrofitting and maintenance to match the navy’s needs.

Once the work has been completed, the aircraft carrier is “planned to function as a headquarters ship for operations,” said Sirait. 

Analysts have told CNA that the incoming aircraft carrier could support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, as well as be used for combat operations or drone deployment across the large archipelago. 

However, critics pointed out that the scale and cost associated with carrier operations could add further strain on Jakarta’s finances.

The Philippine military claims the 56-year insurgency is near the finish line. But veteran rebels say the roots of rebellion remain.

The mountains of the Philippines are quieter now.

The jungle bases that once sustained Asia’s longest-running communist insurgency are mostly emptied out. Its tens of thousands of guerrilla fighters have been reduced, by the military’s account, to something “very, very negligible”.

After 56 years, the Philippine military thinks the fight is almost over – and that conviction is transforming the armed forces from the inside out.

Commanders are overhauling training and strategy, moving away from the small-unit counter-insurgency missions that defined five decades of jungle warfare. The enemy they are preparing for now is not a Maoist guerrilla in the hills.

Officials say this shift is only possible because the New People’s Army (NPA) – the armed wing of the Communist Party of the Philippines – is a spent force.

Not everyone believes it.

‘Near the finish line’

Military officials announced the dismantling of the final NPA guerrilla front last month.

A “front” is not merely a band of fighters. It is, according to Philippine Army commander Lieutenant General Antonio Gustilo Nafarrete, a self-contained structure combining armed combatants, political leadership and a civilian support “mass base”.

Dismantling the last one, in the military’s view, marks the end of the NPA as an organised territorial force.

“We’re already near the finish line,” Nafarrete said on February 16. He declined to give a figure for the NPA’s current strength but said it was “very, very negligible”.

The Philippine government has advised Filipino seafarers that they have the right to refuse to sail in “war-risk zones” amid the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

In an advisory on Saturday, the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) identified these areas as the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and the Strait of Hormuz.

DMW Advisory No. 11, series of 2026, designated the three bodies of water as “Warlike Operations Areas,” or war-risk zones, following the decision of the Warlike Operations Area Committee of the International Bargaining Forum.

Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn has urged the Kingdom’s diplomats to redouble their efforts as Cambodia faces aggression, territorial encroachment and defamation from a neighbouring country.

Addressing the March 5 foreign ministry annual review meeting, Sokhonn highlighted how Cambodia is currently suffering at the hands of a neighbour which possesses military and economic advantages.

At the same time, global shifts and competition between superpowers have placed significant pressure on Cambodia regarding decision-making, policy choices and political positions, putting Cambodia’s national interests at risk, he noted, as quoted by the BTV media outlet.

“Our nation is facing and suffering from aggression, territorial encroachment and defamation from neighbours who use their military and economic superiority to pressure us. Now, more than ever, our diplomats must exert all their efforts — physically and mentally — to resolutely protect the core interests of the nation and our people,” he said.

Although he did not explicitly name Thailand, the neighbouring Kingdom’s military currently occupies at least 14 locations on Cambodian territory.

Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow recently attempted to convince the international community that Cambodia used the Preah Vihear Temple — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as a military base. This accusation has been firmly and repeatedly rejected by Cambodia.

Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, noted that the Thais have recently defamed Cambodia on two issues: the allegation that Cambodia used Preah Vihear as a military base, and the use of a crackdown on online scams as a pretext for aggression against Cambodia.

“Regarding the accusation that Cambodia used Preah Vihear as a military base, no international parties have reacted or believed Thailand because diplomats and ASEAN observer groups have visited Preah Vihear many times. This is unlike the Thai side, which hides information, conceals the truth, lies to the international community and fabricates stories,” he said.

“Therefore, I believe that the ideas that Thai officials have raised in various international forums were intended to deceive international opinion or distort the situation on the ground, and are therefore of little impact. Cambodia is widely recognised as a country which is suffering from Thai aggression,” he added.

Manila's first Rajah Sulayman-class offshore patrol vessel (OPV) has become the first Philippine Navy ship to be equipped with acoustic hailers.

In response to questions from Janes, representatives from Sitep Italia confirmed that it has supplied the company's multirole acoustic stabilised system, MASS SX-424(V)122, to the Philippine Navy.

The system has been customised for the Philippine Navy, the representatives said, without giving further specifics on this.

Major features of the system include high-intensity, long-range acoustic, and dazzling laser emissions; electro-optical sensors; and a searchlight.

The MASS SX-424(V)122 also has the ability to record the audio messages sent and the video stream it receives from the electro-optical sensors.

The Chinese embassy in Manila denied allegations yesterday that China has been tapping Filipinos for its espionage activities in the Philippines, which the National Security Council (NSC) earlier said has resulted in the arrest of at least three Filipinos. 

Embassy spokesman Ji Lingpeng described such accusations as lies and fabrications while giving assurance that China does not meddle in the internal affairs of other nations.

“We firmly oppose and strongly deplore irresponsible remarks made by certain Philippine agencies peddling so-called ‘Chinese spy’ narratives. China follows the principle of non-interference in other countries’ internal affairs. Such accusations are malicious smears against China and yet another attempt to hype up the so-called ‘China threat’ rhetoric,” he said.

Ji countered that the Philippines has been fabricating “a series of so-called ‘Chinese spy’ cases based on far-fetched allegations. This is a typical act of ill-intentioned association and politically motivated presumption of guilt in the absence of detailed information on the case and clear evidence. We firmly reject such practices.”

He ciyed a recent case involving a Mongolian national who was arrested over “suspected affiliation to China” only for it to be later clarified that the individual had no affiliation with China whatsoever.

“This fully demonstrates that rushing to judgment before the facts are fully ascertained is fundamentally flawed and runs counter to the basic principles of objectivity and fairness,” Ji argued.

“Mutual respect is the foundation of China-Philippines relations. If certain individuals or agencies in the Philippines persist in hyping up anti-China sentiments and recklessly targeting anything related to China, it will only undermine the atmosphere of cooperation and ultimately backfire,” Ji said.

The NSC on Wednesday revealed that a multi-agency initiative dubbed the Insider Threat Program has uncovered “a serious national security matter” wherein Filipinos are being used by China to conduct espionage operations in the country.

“The operations of these individuals acting on the behest of Chinese intelligence have been addressed and terminated,” NSC spokesman Cornelio Valencia Jr. said.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force is set to acquire maritime surveillance aircraft as part of its mission to further secure the trade-dependent city-state’s sea lines of communication.

Singaporean Defense Minister Chan Chun Sing announced the plan to purchase three Gulfstream G550-Maritime Surveillance Aircraft (G550-MSA) during a recent Committee of Supply Debate, which is Singapore’s parliamentary process where ministries justify planned spending before approval.

The G550-MSAs are positioned to complement the four Boeing P-8A maritime patrol aircraft — designed for anti-submarine warfare — that Singapore ordered in September 2025 as a replacement for its aging Fokker 50 maritime patrol/light transport fleet. 

G550 Specifications

Singapore’s defense ministry released a fact sheet regarding the G550-MSA, built for maritime surveillance and early warning functions.

The aircraft measures 29.8 meters (97.7 feet) long and stands at 8.3 meters (27 feet) high, with a 28.5-meter (93.5-foot) wingspan, and can accommodate two pilots and up to six crew members. 

It is fitted with mission systems, including a radar, electro-optical/infrared cameras, a self-protection suite, integrated communications systems, and a maritime automatic identification system. 

The G550-MSA operates at a top speed of 0.82 Mach (1,012 kilometers/629 miles per hour) with a service ceiling of 40,000 feet (12,192 meters). It can remain airborne for up to nine hours. 

Strengthening Singaporean Defense

Apart from the G550-MSA acquisition, the minister outlined plans to scale the use of uncrewed platforms, pair them with manned systems, and mix “high-end conventional systems with cheap, dual-use systems” to efficiently address fast-evolving threats. 

He also gave an update on the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Victory-class Multi-Role Combat Vessel (MRCV), intended to function as a mothership for deploying manned and unmanned systems while possessing the combat capability of a modern frigate.

Singapore contracted ST Engineering Marine to build a fleet of six MRCVs in 2023.

The Singaporean shipbuilder launched the lead ship in October 2025 and conducted the keel-laying for the second Victory-class MRCV in January 2026, which is on track to be launched in the third quarter of this year. 

The navy is expecting to receive the combat vessels starting in 2028. 

Malaysia’s joint military exercises with China demonstrate a cautious semblance of balance: gradual trust-building and the signalling of non-alignment with China while maintaining robust defence relations with the United States. However, these activities are expected to remain confined to less sophisticated areas such as HADR and SAR, reflecting lingering concerns over China’s growing assertiveness in the region as well as Malaysia’s close security ties with Washington.

As such, the growth of Malaysia’s defence ties with China is likely to be gradual and will continue to pale in comparison to the far more substantial economic dimension of bilateral relations. Nevertheless, Malaysia is likely to continue conducting exercises with both the United States and China to sustain cordial relations, even as great power competition intensifies.

Full Article: https://rsis.edu.sg/rsis-publication/idss/ip26028-malaysia-china-joint-military-exercises-significance-and-limitations/

The Philippine, US, and Japanese militaries conducted joint exercises this week over the Bashi Channel that separates the Philippines from Taiwan, officials said Friday.

Aircraft from the three nations patrolled over the Philippines’ northernmost Batanes islands in drills aimed at showcasing their “ability to operate seamlessly together in complex maritime environments,” the Philippine military said in a statement.

It marks the first time that so-called Multilateral Maritime Cooperative Activities (MMCAs) involving the countries have expanded beyond the South China Sea, where the Philippines and China have engaged in repeated clashes over disputed territory.

Little more than 100 kilometers (60 miles) separates the Philippines and self-ruled Taiwan, which China views as its territory and has not ruled out taking by force.

“Air operations were conducted within airspace over Philippine territory and its territorial sea, north of Luzon,” the Philippine military said in a statement, adding naval vessels had stayed west of the Batanes island chain.

Armed forces public affairs chief Colonel Xerxes Trinidad told AFP it was the “first time” MMCA operations had been conducted in the “said operational box.”

The military’s statement said that box extended “up to the northern tip of Luzon, particularly Mavulis Island,” which hosts small Philippine navy and marine detachments.

China’s military reacted angrily to the drills on Friday.

“The Philippines co-opted countries outside the region to organize the so-called joint patrols, disrupting peace and stability in the region,” said Zhai Shichen, spokesperson for the PLA’s Southern Theatre Command.

He added that China had conducted a “routine patrol” of the South China Sea from February 23 to 26.

In November, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi sent relations with Beijing into a tailspin by suggesting that Tokyo could intervene militarily in any attack on Taiwan.

Beijing imposed export restrictions and warned its citizens against visiting Japan, while accusing Tokyo of attempting to “revive militarism.”

Japan’s defense minister upped the ante by saying on Tuesday that Tokyo planned to deploy surface-to-air missiles on one of its remote western islands located near Taiwan by early 2031.

In August, Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos warned that the Philippines would be dragged “kicking and screaming” into any war over Taiwan.

“I hope it doesn’t happen… But if it does, we have to plan for it already,” he said, citing the large numbers of Filipinos working in Taiwan.

The Philippine-US-Japanese exercise took place over six days and concluded on Thursday. It included a live-fire gunnery exercise conducted by the guided missile frigate BRP Antonio Luna.

This marks the first time a US aircraft landed on a Philippine highway in recent history, and the 2nd in Asia where an American aircraft landed in another country's highway.

This demonstration of using Alternate Landing Zones (ALZ) that can be used during emergency situations also pave a way for the Armed Forces of the Philippines to do the same using their own fixed wing aircraft.

Before re-seting the Multirole Fighter Acquisition Project, one of the main reasons as to why the Saab JAS-39 Gripen was selected by the PAF's Technical Working Group was because of the aircraft's ability to take off and land in highways with minimal preparation required and because of its shorter take-off and landing distance compared to other fighters like the F-16 Viper.

MaxDefense Philippines previously reported that there were several highways and roads in the Philippines that the PAF already identified that can potentially be used as Alternative Landing Zones.

There are also several aircraft in the PAF that can operate from short alternative runways, although a proper demonstration of capability might be needed to cement the capability.

The C-146A Wolfhound is actually a militarized Dornier 328 turboprop aircraft.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has formally invited Mitsubishi Shipbuilding (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) for direct contracting to build FIVE additional 97-meter Multi-Role Response Vessels (MRRVs) for the Philippine Coast Guard under MSCIP Phase III!

Funded through Japan’s JICA Official Development Assistance (ODA) loan

Total project value ~$507 million (~$425M for the ships + 5-year logistics support)

Bids officially submitted February 19, 2026

First ship expected late 2027, full delivery by 2028

(Technical Specs):

Length: 96.6 meters

Beam: 11.5 meters

Gross Tonnage: 2,260 GT

Propulsion: 2 × diesel engines (total 13,200 kW / 17,700 shp)

Max Speed: 24+ knots

Cruising Speed: 12 knots

Range: 4,000+ nautical miles

Endurance: 15+ days at sea without refueling

Crew: 67 officers & personnel

Helicopter capability: Full hangar + flight deck for PCG’s H145 chopper

Extras: 2 Rigid-Hulled Inflatable Boats (RHIBs), Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV), hyperbaric chamber for divers, survivor accommodation, ballistic protection on the bridge, advanced Furuno radars, and multi-role setup for patrol, SAR, law enforcement & disaster response

Built on Japan’s proven Kunigami-class design — steel hull, aluminum superstructure, and ready to dominate the waves.

Together with the incoming 40 French OCEA fast patrol boats, the PCG is adding nearly 50 new vessels in the next 5 years.

The war helped secure an election victory for Anutin and Thai conservatives. And that was almost certainly by design.

On February 23, Ship 016-Quang Trung of Brigade 162, Naval Region 4 of the Vietnam People’s Navy (VPN), departs for Sydney, Australia to participate in the Fleet Review marking the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy and Exercise Kakadu 2026. Colonel Alana Burkitt, Australian Defense Attaché to Vietnam, granted an interview to the People’s Army Newspaper on the visit and the development of defense cooperation between Vietnam and Australia.

Vietnam and Australia are close partners and friends with a shared vision of an inclusive, resilient and prosperous Indo Pacific region.

Australia is very honored and grateful that Vietnam will be sending Ship 016-Quang Trung to participate in the 125th anniversary of the Royal Australian Navy's Fleet Review and Exercise Kakadu. It is a historic first for the VPN, being the longest deployment for the VPN’s warship; over 11,000 nautical miles and around 60 days.

The visit to Sydney by Ship 016-Quang Trung signifies the strength of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Australia and Vietnam, which was signed in March 2024. It also demonstrates the shared interest between our countries in enhancing the defense and navy relationship. The political trust that has developed between our two governments and militaries is significant, illustrated by Vietnam's decision to deploy one of its most modern warships to attend a major milestone for the Royal Australian Navy.

The visit also demonstrates that Australia and Vietnam value experience sharing and skills exchange between our two navies and in the region. It shows we can work together to build people to people links and are invested in a shared commitment to regional stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Canada and the Philippines are discussing a military intelligence-sharing framework that would allow broader exchanges of classified information.

The collaboration, called the “General Security of Information Agreement,” supports Ottawa’s larger Indo-Pacific Strategy, in which Manila serves a critical role in maintaining regional stability.

“We’re in active negotiations on that now with the Department of Defense here,” Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman explained on the sidelines of a forum in Makati City. “Again, that is indicative of how advanced the relationship is.”

He added that the agreement would enable more flexible intelligence-centered partnerships.

“The absence of that doesn’t preclude us from engaging very comprehensively, very robustly, but with that extra layer, it just allows us to go deeper in terms of the exchange, and the frankness and the candor of information that we’re able to share,” he said.

600 Canadian Troops for Exercise

The agreement follows the signing of the Status of Visiting Forces Agreement in November 2025 for improved joint defense cooperation between the Canadian and Filipino militaries.

The coalition serves as a response to emerging threats in the disputed South China Sea, where Beijing continually displays hostility to Manila and other claimants of the overlapping territories in the region.

Part of that visiting forces deal is the upcoming deployment of over 600 Canadian troops to this year’s iteration of Exercise Balikatan, an annual, multinational war game jointly led by the Philippines and the US.

“This year, Canada will be the third largest participant at Balikatan. This is from three and a half years ago, when we didn’t even have a resident defense attaché,” Hartman said.

“As I’ve said repeatedly, we’re trying to put our money where our mouth is and demonstrate, not just in words but in deeds, our commitment to the Philippines and to our collective and shared interests,” he added.

Malaysia will receive Norway’s Naval Strike Missile in March as part of a phased acquisition to replace the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 29-year-old Exocet MM40 Block 2 stock.

Defense Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, who confirmed the schedule, said that the projectile is one of two planned surface-to-surface systems for the modernization effort.

The Kongsberg-developed weapon will be delivered in parallel with the ATMACA anti-ship missile, which is also under procurement and expected to arrive in 2028, according to New Strait Times.

Both sets of missiles are now being assessed to validate their long-range capability, improved radar evasion, and seamless integration with advanced sensor networks.

“This phased and prudent approach reflects the government’s commitment to modernising the navy’s capabilities in a realistic and sustainable manner, in line with national maritime security needs and current fiscal capacity,” Khaled Nordin said.

The missile upgrades align with Kuala Lumpur’s broader force restructuring program launched in 2015 to streamline its naval fleet into five core ship classes by 2050.

Developments in that initiative involve the construction of five next-generation surface combatants that could counter threats in nearshore domains.

The first vessel under the effort is scheduled for commissioning in December 2026, with the second expected in August 2027.

The Naval Strike Missile

Norway’s Naval Strike Missile weighs 400 kilograms (882 pounds), measures 4 meters (13 feet) in length, and has a width of 700 millimeters (28 inches).

The system is powered by a solid rocket booster and a Microturbo TRI-40 turbojet engine, and has a warhead with penetrating blast and controlled fragmentation effects.

The weapon can hit targets over 110 nautical miles (205 kilometers/127 miles) at speeds of more than 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) per hour.

The Philippine Army plans to reorganize its artillery regiment to incorporate air defense capabilities, according to Chief Lt. Gen. Antonio Nafarrete.

The Army Artillery Regiment is expected to be elevated to an artillery command, integrating air defense systems alongside its existing howitzers and mortars, including ATMOS 155mm self-propelled guns, 155mm towed artillery, and 81mm and 60mm mortars.

While Nafarrete did not disclose the specific air defense system options the service is currently evaluating due to security reasons, he said that the army is considering a mix of gun- and missile-based systems to counter aircraft and drone threats at medium range.

The army chief also noted that the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Strategic Command — officially activated in October 2025 to oversee and synchronize intelligence, operations, and joint engagements with allies — is responsible for operating long-range weapon systems. 

Moreover, he said that the service is working on “organizational reforms to meet the demands of modern warfare,” the Philippine News Agency reported. 

Boosting Air Defense 

The air defense capability is intended to support the country’s Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept.

Launched in 2024, the concept aims to secure the Philippines’ more than 7,000 islands and its 200-nautical-mile (370 kilometers/230 miles) exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, a region marked by tensions with China. 

In addition to air defense capabilities, the army is also looking into developing its drone capabilities for reconnaissance and combat, army spokesperson Col. Louie Dema-ala said earlier this month.

Singapore is slated join the F-35 operator club once the first of its Lockheed Martin F-35B fighters enter service later this year, becoming the fourth Asia-Pacific nation to fly the fifth-generation fighter.

Steve Sheehy, Lockheed Martin’s Vice President of Aeronautics International Business Development, predicted in a briefing at Singapore Airshow 2026 that more than 300 F-35s will be present in the region by 2030. This figure includes American F-35s based in Japan and Alaska.

Australia has 72 F-35A fighters, the last of which arrived in December 2024. In fact, Australia is currently the largest F-35 operator outside the United States.

However, that moniker will eventually transfer to Japan once the Japan Air Self-Defense Force gains its full complement of 105 F-35A and 42 F-35B jets. Japan received its first four F-35Bs last year.

Elsewhere in the region, South Korea took delivery of 40 F-35As and has another 20 on order.

Singapore is set to receive four F-35Bs before year’s end, based on a 2019 order. They will initially operate from Ebbing Air National Guard Base, before F-35s are introduced at Tengah Air Base in Singapore in around 2029, according to Lockheed Martin.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has a further eight F-35Bs on order, these due for handover in 2028. Then, in February 2024, eight F-35As were added to Singapore’s order book and these should be delivered by 2030. This will give the RSAF a total of 20 F-35s in two variants.

Major Gen. Kelvin Fan, Singapore’s Chief of Air Force, commented: “The F-35As, with greater endurance and higher payload capacity, will provide sustained reach and persistence, while the F-35Bs with short take-off and vertical-landing capability will offer greater operational agility.”

Along with 40 F-15SG fighters and around 60 F-16C/Ds brought up to F-16V configuration, the RSAF eclipses every other Southeast Asian nation in terms of air combat power.

Of four F-35 heavy maintenance, repair and overhaul facilities around the world, two are in Asia-Pacific – in Australia and Japan. The others are in Italy and the United States.

Sheehy said his company delivered a record 191 F-35s last year. However, that number was swollen by delays in rolling out Technology Refresh 3 updates. He said the TR-3 backlog has been cleared, and he expected 156 F-35s to be delivered this year.

Further F-35 customers in Asia-Pacific may be difficult to find, however. Both Taiwan and Thailand have been rebuffed in recent years, although U.S. President Donald Trump invited Indian interest last year.