Singapore equips RSAF F-16s with Israeli-made Python-5

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
9 Sep 2023 09:44

The Republic of Singapore's Armed Forces announces, during the preparations for a major open house celebration at the at Paya Lebar Air Base, that their F-16s falcon is now equipped with Python-5 air-to-air missiles.

Two Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 fighter jets perform a maneuver during an aerial display preview ahead of the Singapore Airshow on Friday, Feb. 2, 2018, in Singapore. (AP)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), via an information board at Paya Lebar Air Base, has announced that its F-16 Falcon fighter jets have become equipped with the Python-5 air-to-air missile manufactured by "Israel."

The Python-5 has a relatively short radius of 20 kilometers but can be considered one of the most advanced air-to-air missiles as it can attack targets from any direction and can search, if ordered, to find the target and lock on it after it gets fired.

Significantly, Vietnam, the Phillipnes, and India all operate the Israeli-made missile.

The unveiling came ahead of a major open house celebration, at the air base, this weekend to mark the 55th anniversary of the founding of the RSAF, which was established following the model of the Israeli Occupation Forces.

Between 1998 and 2004, Singapore bought 62 F-16C/Ds, from the Block 52 cohort, in multiple batches. Notably, the model bought by Singapore is the same model that the IOF used to custom-design the F-16 Soufa, which made the possibility of integrating the Python-5 missile possible at a time when F-16s, sent to Ukraine alongside the British-made Storm Shadow cruise missile were facing issues in interoperability as they cannot be equippred with Storm Shadow cruises.

In 2018, Singapore purchased a number of SPYDER systems from the Israeli, Haifa-based, Rafael Advanced Systems; a surface-to-air missile platform. As such, Singapore has likely had the Python-5 missile since then.

It is also important to note that over the upcoming 10 years, Singapore is set to replace its F-16s Falcons with stealthy F-35B Joint Strike Fighters capable of landing and takeoff in a vertical position or on a runway.

From a geostrategic perspective, Singapore is 3,124.37 km away from Taiwan, separated only by the South China Sea. The Air and maritime route between the two countries is surrounded by Vietnam on one end and the Phillipines on another, both of which own the Python-5 missile systems.

The arms race in Asia continues as the US military complex and government continue to fund it across multiple Asian countries.

US greenlights F-16 search and track system sale to Taiwan

Earlier in August, the US Department of State granted approval for a potential sale of infrared search and track systems for F-16 fighter jets, along with other equipment, to Taiwan. This move, with a maximum potential value of $500 million, has been confirmed by the Pentagon.

While the statement claimed that this proposed sale would not disrupt the fundamental military equilibrium in the regio, this decision could potentially cause tensions with Beijing, as China has persistently urged the US, Taiwan's primary arms provider, to cease weapon sales to the island nation.

The principal contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corp, the manufacturer of the F-16 fighter jets, which was awarded, on September 1st, an $18 million government contract to service Taiwan's F16s.

"Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co., Fort Worth, Texas, was awarded a not-to-exceed price of $18,170,000 undefinitized contract action for F-16 Systems Program Office Foreign Military Sales (FMS) support," the release read.

"This contract involves FMS support to the Taiwan Air Force, and the requirement is for the Taiwan F-16 Block 20 Service Life Extension Program," it continued.

The work will be performed in Fort Worth, Texas, and in Taiwan; it is expected to be completed by August 30, 2030.