Under sultry skies, the 2022 Singapore Airshow kicks off this week – albeit in slightly reduced form due to the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 Singapore Airshow was impacted by COVID also and although it went ahead, it was the last major aviation trade show in the Asia-Pacific region for two years. Despite the lingering effects of COVID therefore, Singapore 2022 signals a welcome return to such shows.
During a media preview on 13 February the Managing Director of Experia Events, the airshow organiser, Leck Chet Lam told gathered journalists that just short of 600 companies will be participating in the 2022 event, including more than 70 per cent of the top 20 aviation companies.
“In addition, we expect more than 39,000 trade visitors, from 39 countries.” Chet Lam said. When asked if he expected any major announcements at Singapore 2022, Chet Lam said that people were just happy to be conducting business in a face-to-face manner once again.
Stringent testing requirements are in place for all attendees and social distancing measures will be very much a part of the 2022 event.
Highlights of the 2022 show promise to be a flying demonstration from India’s Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), which its Singapore debut, and a US Marine Corps Lockheed Martin F-35B Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variant of the Joint Strike Fighter. The latter will be of particular interest to many in the Republic of Singapore Air Force, which has recently placed an initial order for four aircraft, to be delivered from 2026.
Static display highlights include a Luftwaffe A400M, US Air Force F-35A Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) version and – also making its debut at Singapore – a Boeing KC-46A Pegasus tanker.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is also well-represented at the show, including for the first time, one of its recently-delivered Airbus Helicopters H225M battlefield helicopters.
The show will be taking place from February 15-18. ADM is on the ground in Singapore and will bring you the latest news as it happens.