Singapore will purchase eight Lockheed Martin Corp. F-35A fighter planes for 2030, Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen declared in a parliamentary session on Wednesday.

According to Minister Ng, close to 2,500 F-35s are on order globally, making including these advanced military aircraft crucial for the city-state. The official stressed the fighter jets' affordable price and his desire to accelerate Singapore's F-35 procurement, according to Bloomberg.

The Singaporean Ministry of Defense expects to spend S$20.2 billion ($15 billion) the following year, up 2.5% from 2023.

(Photo : ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images) A US Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II, a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) version of the Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, flies past during a preview of the Singapore Airshow in Singapore on February 13, 2022. 

Bolstering Military Capabilities Amid Regional Risks

The Singaporean government indicated last year that it would exercise an option to buy eight more F-35s to augment the four already in service and phase out aged F-16s. Singapore will have 20 F-35s after this acquisition.

According to The Washington Post, the F-35 is designed for mission success with its superior stealth technology, 360-degree situational awareness, electronic assaults, data capture, and communication. 

Singapore is strengthening its defenses amid rising Southeast Asian geopolitical concerns. Concerns include US-China tension over Taiwan and South China Sea issues.

In January, the Philippines announced intentions to improve military capabilities due to simmering tensions between the Philippines and China in the South China Sea, as reported by Al Jazeera.

Philippine military chief Romeo Brawner noted plans to increase the number of ships, radars, and planes to transition from internal to territorial defense as recent confrontations between Beijing and Manila in the disputed waters have escalated tension. According to previous reports, Chinese military ships are employing water cannons against Philippine military ships and fishing boats in the South China Sea.

Russia Receiving Military Aid from South Korea

Meanwhile, a South Korean official disclosed that North Korea has delivered substantial military support to Russia. 

South Korea's Defense Minister Shin Won-sik revealed that North Korea sent millions of artillery rounds to Russia after a September meeting between Kim Jong Un and Putin, as reported previously by Venture Capital Post.

The military supplies were reportedly sent to support Russia's military efforts in Ukraine in exchange for essential commodities. Despite operational challenges in North Korea's arms factories due to material shortages and power deficits, certain facilities are reportedly operating at full capacity to produce weapons and shells specifically for Russia.

Shin's comments correspond to Ukraine's reported weapons shortages due to delays in Western assistance.

Many US House Republicans refused to finance Kyiv's war effort, delaying President Joe Biden's $60 billion military assistance plan for Ukraine, which has been under Russian attack since February 2022.

According to a report from CBS News, some towns in eastern Ukraine have fallen to Russian forces as Ukrainian troops experience ammunition shortages.

Russia and North Korea have denied providing weapons or ammunition to Russian servicemen.