Singapore's first F-35 fighter ready by Q4 2026; 8 of 20 jets to be based at Tengah

The first of Singapore's 20 F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters is planned for delivery in the fourth quarter of 2026.The first Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft will be delivered to a US airbase at the end of 2026.Twelve of the jets are F-35Bs, which will be permanently based at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas.Meanwhile, the remaining eight F-35As will be housed at Tengah Air Base from the fourth quarter of 2029.The report also added that Singapore had begun design works on a "main operating base" at Tengah Air Base to house the F-35As.These updates were revealed in a US Department of War report dated April 21 that was cleared for open publication on Aug 3.