Lockheed Martin's F-35B makes Asian debut in Singapore.

The U.S. military is once again participating in the Singapore International Airshow, which is being held at the Singapore Changi Airport and the Changi Exhibition Centre, Singapore, Feb. 6-11, 2018. Among other assets, two F-35B fighter jets belonging to the USMC Marine Fighter Attack Squadron-121 “Green Knights”are making their first public appearance in South East Asia.

A USMC F-35B STOVL fighter jet at Singapore Airshow 2018

Lockheed Martin's F-35B is being delivered to the USMC, Royal Air Force, Royal Navy and the Italian Air Force and Navy, which received the first one last week.

Currently, no Asian countries have ordered the F-35B, though the JASDF and RoKAF purchased the F-35A CTOL variant.

Singapore joined the F-35 program in 2003 as "Security Cooperation Participant" to explore configurations and modifications to the fighter jet to meet the RSAF specific operational requirements. But in August 2016, the city state put on hold a plan to procure up to 12 F-35Bs and postpone the acquisition of a first batch of four jets by 2022.

A cross-section of U.S. military aircraft and equipment are being presented through static displays and aerial demonstrations, including the C-17 Globemaster III, RQ-4 Global Hawk, P-8 Poseidon, F-35B Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon, and F-18 Super Hornet.

"Through participation in airshows and regional events, the U.S. demonstrates its commitment to the security of the Indo-Pacific region, promotes interoperability, displays the flexible combat capabilities of the U.S. military, and creates lasting relationships with international audiences to strengthen the bonds that support partnership building throughout the Indo-Pacific region," the PACAF said on its website.