According to the Singaporean Ministry of Defense, exclusive access to the F-35’s full-scale features persuaded the government to procure additional jets. The access comprised details of the F-35B’s information and facilities and was granted to the RSAF and the Singaporean Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), Rojoef Manuel reports in The Defense Post.

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The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant's fuel volume to accommodate the SDLF  (Picture source: Lockheed Martin)

In January 2020, the U.S. Department of State approved the $2.75 billion sale of 12 F-35B Lightning II jets to Singapore. Singapore requested 4 F-35B Short Take-Off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) aircraft with an option to purchase an additional 8; up to 13 Pratt and Whitney F135 Engines, including a spare; communications and training equipment; electronic warfare systems; and the F-35’s Autonomic Logistics Information System, which integrates data on aircraft training and maintenance, a January 9, 2020, Defense Security Council Agency release then said.

The F-35B is the short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) variant of the aircraft. Similar in size to the A variant, the B sacrifices about a third of the A variant's fuel volume to accommodate the SDLF. This variant is limited to 7G. Unlike other variants, the F-35B has no landing hook. The "STOVL/HOOK" control instead engages conversion between normal and vertical flight. The F-35B is capable of Mach 1.6 (1,976 km/h).

In 2022, the RSAF flew alongside F-35s during an air combat exercise in Australia to gain more information on the aircraft, Rojoef Manuel reports. “These experiences provided information for the RSAF and DSTA project team to study the aircraft’s operational capabilities and its ability to integrate with the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF’s) warfighting systems,” DSTA Air Systems director Ang Jer Meng explained. “All of these have given us valuable insights (on the F-35Bs). [Singapore’s Ministry of Defence] and the SAF have concluded that the F-35 is the best choice to meet our defence needs now and in the future,” Singaporean Defence Minister Ng En Hen said.

Once delivered, RSAF’s future F-35B fleet will replace the service’s F-16 Fighting Falcons, which have been in service since 1998 and will reach retirement in the mid-2030s, Rojoef Manuel reports.