A Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) statement said it was "in the process of seeking final clarifications and contract negotiation with Boeing" for a contract estimated in the industry to be worth about one billion US dollars.

Military aviation sources said the wording of the announcement on what is called the Next Fighter Replacement Programme was a mere formality, and that it was a done deal for Boeing.

The Rafale and F-15 were shortlisted after the Eurofighter Typhoon was knocked out of the running for new fighters to replace a squadron of aging A4SU Super Skyhawks, upgrades of US-made aircraft first bought in the 1970s.

Singapore has not released details of its intended purchase but industry sources said a fighter squadron typically has 20-24 aircraft.

Its choice for its next fighter was keenly awaited in the world arms industry because the wealthy city-state is regarded as a picky buyer whose choices influence other countries' decisions.

Singapore also operates F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-5 Tigers.

Part of its air force is stationed in friendly countries like the United States, France and Australia because it does not have enough air space for training.

Robert Karniol, Asia-Pacific editor of Jane's Defence Weekly, said he was "a bit surprised" by the announcement of final talks with Boeing.

"It's an extraordinarily complicated selection process," the Bangkok-based Karniol told AFP, adding that the Rafale would have had "longer legs" as the new-generation aircraft for Singapore.

"I don't see the F-15 twenty years from now being particularly effective in that environment," he said.

"The Singaporean procurement will be done in at least two phases and this decision is part one... there is a part two to follow.

"Either they will buy some more F-15s or another type of aircraft and my guess is if they select the F-15 now, they would go for another aircraft in phase two."

The Singapore statement came two weeks after the US Defense Department notified Congress of the possible sale to Singapore of weapons, logistics and training as part of a proposed F-15 fighter sale.

The weapons include advanced supersonic air-to-air missiles and satellite-guided bombs.

"This proposed sale includes weapons and logistics for the F-15 aircraft," the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency said in a statement.

The agency said the proposed sale of weapons and logistics for the aircraft was worth 741 million dollars if all options are exercised.

The weapons include 200 AIM 120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles, 50 Joint Direct Attack Munitions with 500-pound warheads, 30 AGM 154A-1 Joint Standoff Weapons with 500-pound warheads, 30 AGM 154C Joint Standoff Weapons, and 200 AIM 9X Sidewinder missiles.

Last April, Singapore dropped the Eurofighter Typhoon from its shortlist, leaving the Rafale and F-15 in a final duel.

Defence spending for the current financial year of 9.26 billion Singapore dollars (5.8 billion US) accounts for 31.2 percent of the national budget, one of the highest in Asia.

France, which hosts a squadron of Singaporean Skyhawks at a training facility, had lobbied strongly for the Rafale but Singapore is a close American ally.

French Defense Minister Michele Alliot-Marie visited Singapore earlier this year to urge the republic to pick the Rafale and President Jacques Chirac himself had pushed for the plane during an earlier visit to Singapore.

The Rafale is a multi-role combat aircraft, capable of performing a wide range of missions day or night in all-weather conditions.

For its part Boeing has pointed to the F-15's performance in actual combat as one of its main advantages.

All rights reserved. © 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.