Singapore drops Eurofighter from shopping list

Singapore today dropped the Eurofighter Typhoon from its list of jet fighters being considered for its air force, leaving only the US-made F-15 Strike Eagle and the French Dassault Rafale vying for the lucrative contract.

Britain’s BAE Systems produces component including the aft fuselage, the vertical stabiliser and forward fuselage cockpit assembly for the Eurofighter.

Singapore had shortlisted the three manufacturers for a 20-plane deal to replace its ageing A-4 Super Skyhawk jet fighters, worth about $2bn (€1.5bn).

A brief Ministry of Defence statement said the Eurofighter’s “systems did not meet the requirements of the Republic of Singapore Air Force.”

Separately, Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said they were nowhere near a decision.

“We are proceeding with our evaluation. We’ll do a thorough evaluation and we’re not under any time and pressure to decide,” said Teo in a speech. He declined to comment when asked for a timeframe on the city-state’s decision.

Singapore, which spends more on defence than any south-east Asian nation relative to the size of its economy, has one of the region’s most modern armed forces.