Republic of Singapore Air Force

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**Republic of Singapore Air Force**
Squadrons


List of RSAF Squadrons
Aircraft
RSAF aircraft
Bases
Changi Airbase (East)
Changi Airbase (West)
Paya Lebar Airbase
Sembawang Airbase
Tengah Airbase

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队; Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) was established in 1968. At that time called the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), it was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) in 1975.

1 Organisation
2 Overview
3 Aircraft
4 Airbases
5 Overseas detachments (Training)
6 Personnel
7 Future plans
8 Museum
9 See also
10 Reference
11 External links

[edit] Organisation

The RSAF is led by the Chief of Air Force (CAF). The current CAF is Brigadier General Ng Chee Khern; one of the first F-16 pilots in Singapore. He took over office from Major General Lim Kim Choon who retired in March 2006 after serving in the position for a period of 5 years. The CAF reports directly to the Chief of Defence Force and is assisted by the Chief of Staff (Air Staff). The Air Staff comprise six functional departments: Air Manpower, Air Intelligence, Air Operations, Air Logistics, Air Plans and Air training. There are also two specialist departments: the Air Force Inspectorate (AFI) and the Office of the Chief Air Force Medical Officer (CMAO).

The organisation chart below shows the administrative chain of command with seven formations: Tengah Airbase, Paya Lebar Airbase, Changi Airbase (West), Changi Airbase (East), Sembawang Airbase, Air Defence Systems Division (ADSD) and the Tactical Air Support Command (TASC).

[edit] Overview

The backbone of the RSAF is formed by the Block 52/52+ F-16 Fighting Falcons. These are armed with US-supplied AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles and LANTIRN targeting pods, laser guided munitions and conformal fuel tanks for long-range strike.

RSAF Aircraft

While initially having bought as many as 70 F-16 planes, the early Block 15OCU models will be given to Thailand in exchange for some training grounds. This would mean that the RSAF will operate only the Block 52/52+ models and as many as 62 F-16CJ/DJ planes in total. The initial Block15OCU aircraft are believed to be upgraded to "Falcon One" standard by Singapore Technologies before being donated to the Royal Thai Air Force.

The RSAF also operates its aircraft in several overseas locations in order to provide greater exposure to its pilots. With F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, KC-135R Stratotankers, AH-64D Apaches and CH-47SD Chinook helicopters based in the USA, Marchetti S-211's and Super Puma helicopters in Australia and (T)A-4SU Super Skyhawks in France, almost one third of the inventory is based outside Singapore.

In 1994 the RSAF started the modernization program for its fleet of approximately 40 operational (R)F-5E and F-5F aircraft. The upgrade was performed by Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAero) and the upgraded aircraft were designated (R)F-5S and F-5T respectively, operating from Paya Lebar Airbase. These upgraded F-5S/T are rumored to be capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile but no actual live-firing has been reported. The Fighter force of F-16C/D's and (R)F-5S/T's is supported by four KC-135Rs and KC-130Bs for in-flight refuelling.

Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability was introduced when in 1987 four E-2C Hawkeyes were delivered to 111 Sqn and coastal surveillance is performed by five Fokker 50 MPA, armed with long-range anti-shipping Harpoon missiles and torpedoes.

Singapore has ordered twenty AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters and after a long period of negotiations over the delivery of the sophisticated Longbow radar, the first one was handed over on May 17, 2002, fitted with the Fire Control Radar. An extra batch of 12 Apaches was ordered in 2001, before the first delivery actually took place, so eventually the RSAF will operate 20 of these sophisticated attack helicopters. All of the initial eight Apaches are based in the USA. Three of the Apache Longbows returned in January 2006 at the Minister of Defense's request.

Apart from the six CH-47D's delivered from 1996, a new batch of six aircraft was ordered in 1997, with an option of four extra airframes. At least 12 CH-47D have been delivered and are in-service at Sembawang Airbase, it is believed that these had been upgraded to the SD standard prior to delivery. Eight of them were deployed to support the relief efforts in Indonesia's Tsunami disaster.

The RSAF also helped in the Indonesian Tsunami Relief efforts. It was the first and one of the few countries to reach the affected areas. The RSAF deployed C-130Hs, CH-47SDs and AS 332Ms there along with three of the RSN's Landing Ship Tanks and SAF's vehicles and soldiers.

On November 18th, 2004 it was announced the RSAF will be donating its remaining 7 F-16A/B's (3 Alphas and 4 Bravos) to the Royal Thai Air Force. The 8th plane was lost in an accident. It is believed that they were handed over in late 2005. In return, the RSAF was given access to train on the Thai air base of Udon Thani for a set number of days each year.

Also, after 31 years of operations, the RSAF officially withdrew its fleet of A-4SU Super Skyhawks from operational service on 31 March 2005. The A-4SUs' achievements included flying directly from Singapore to the Philippines, incorporating the RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling mission in 1986, as well as the excellent aerobatic display of the 'red and white' Super Skyhawks flown by the RSAF Black Knights during Asian Aerospace 1990. A month before its retirement, the Skyhawk squadron won the top honours in a strike exercise against its more modern F-16 and F-5 counterparts.

[edit] Aircraft

RSAF Roundel

**RSAF** aircraft
Type	Origin	Role	Amount	Program
Fixed Wing Combat Aircraft
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Interceptor	8	Lease and Buy
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Interceptor	8	Peace Carvin 2
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Interceptor	10	Peace Carvin 3
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Strike	10	Peace Carvin 2
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Strike	4	Lease and Buy
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon	United States	Strike	2	Peace Carvin 3
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon	United States	Strike	20	Peace Carvin 4
Northrop F-5S Tiger 2 (Upgraded from F-5E)	United States	Interceptor	36	?
Northrop F-5T Tiger 2 (Upgraded from F-5F)	United States	Training / Interceptor	9	?
Boeing F-15SG	United States	Air Superiority / Strike	12 (o/o)	?
Helicopters
Boeing CH-47SD Chinook	United States	Heavy Transport	18	Peace Prairie
Eurocopter AS332M Super Puma	France	Medium Transport / SAR	22	?
Eurocopter AS532UL Cougar	France	Medium Transport	12	?
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow	United States	Attack	20	Peace Vanguard
Sikorsky S-70B	United States	Anti-Ship/Anti-Submarine	6 (o/o)	?
Transport Aircraft
Lockheed C-130H	United States	Heavy Transport	6	?
Fokker 50 UTL	Netherlands	Medium Transport / VIP	4	?
Support Aircraft
Boeing KC-135R	United States	Aerial Refuelling / Transport	4	Peace Guardian
Lockheed KC-130B	United States	Aerial Refuelling / Transport	4	?
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye	United States	Airborne Early Warning	4	?
Fokker F50 ME2	Netherlands	Maritime Patrol	5	?
Trainer Aircraft
Marchetti S211	Italy	Basic Jet Trainer	30	?
Pilatus PC-21	Switzerland	Basic Trainer	19 (o/o)	?
Douglas A-4SU Super Skyhawk	United States	Advanced Jet Trainer	4	?
Douglas TA-4SU Super Skyhawk	United States	Advanced Jet Trainer	4	?
Eurocopter AS550A2 Fennec][Retired]	France	Helicopter Trainer	7	?
Eurocopter EC120 Colibri (Leased from ST Aero)	France	Helicopter Trainer	5 (o/o)	?
Air Defense SAM/ADA
I-Hawk	United States	SAM	Classified	?
Mistral	European Union	SAM	Classified	?
Rapier Mk II	United Kingdom	SAM	Classified	?
SA-18 Igla MANPADS	Russia	SAM	Classified	?
SA-18 (2 twin Igla launchers on M113A2 APC)	Russia	SAM	Classified	?
RBS-70	Sweden	SAM	Classified	?
Oerlikon 35mm	Switzerland	AA Gun	Classified	?
UAV
IAI Searcher Mk 2	Israel	Recon	40	?
ST Blue Horizon		Reconnaissance	Classified	?
ST Firefly		Reconnaissance	Classified	?
Stored Aircraft
Douglas A-4SU Super Skyhawk	United States	Strike	60	?
Douglas TA-4SU Super Skyhawk	United States	Strike	20	?
Bell UH-1H	United States	Light Transport	19	?
Eurocopter AS550A2 / AS550C2 Fennec	France	Training / Scout	13	?
Hawker Hunter	United Kingdom	Interceptor / Attack	20	?

[edit] Airbases

An RSAF Super Puma takes off from the flight deck of the Endurance class LST RSS Resolution.

Changi Airbase (West)
- 112 Sqn 4 KC-135R (Aerial Refuelling)
- 121 Sqn 4 Fokker 50 (Transport), 5 Fokker 50 ME2 (Maritime Patrol)

Changi Airbase (East)
- 145 Sqn 20 F-16D Blk 52+ (Strike)

Paya Lebar Airbase
- 122 Sqn 6 C-130H (Transport)
- 122 Sqn 4 KC-130B (Transport & Aerial Refuelling)
- 141 Sqn 6 F-5S (Interceptor), 1 F-5T (Training/Interceptor) -- Decommissioned since Nov 2005, aircraft redistributed to 144 and 149 Sqn.
- 144 Sqn 15 F-5S (Interceptor), 7 F-5T (Training/Interceptor)
- 149 Sqn 15 F-5S (Interceptor), 1 F-5T (Training/Interceptor)

Sembawang Airbase
- 127 Sqn 12 CH-47SD (Heavy Lift)
- 125 Sqn 19 AS 332M Super Puma (Transport & SAR)
- 124 Sqn 7 AS 550A2 Fennec (Heli Training/Light Attack)
- 123 Sqn 3 AS 550A2 Fennec, 10 AS 550C2 Fennec (Sqn Disbanded, aircraft in storage)
- 120 Sqn 4 AH-64D Longbow Apache

Tengah Airbase
- 111 Sqn 4 E-2C Hawkeye (AEW & Control)
- 140 Sqn 5 F-16C, 4 F-16D Blk 52 (Interceptor)*
- 143 Sqn 3 F-16C, 11 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)*
- 142 Sqn 25 A-4SU (Attack), 5 TA-4SU (Training/Attack) (Sqn Disbanded, aircraft in storage)

Chongpang Camp ADA
- 3rd DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar (under Army 3rd Div)
- 6th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar (under Army 6th Div)
- 9th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar (under Army 9th Div)
- 18th DA Mistral SAM (under Army 21st Div)
- 160 Sqn Oerlikon 35mm AA Guns (airfield defence)

Lim Chu Kang Camp II ADA
- 163 Sqn I-Hawk SAM (medium altitude air defence)
- 165 Sqn 10 batteries Rapier Blindfire SAM (low altitude air defence)

Other Air Defence Artillery
- 201 Sqn FPS 117 Radar (fighter control, SAM control, surveillance, ASP)
- 203 Sqn LORADS Radar (RASP, SAR, "listening watch" for distress signals)

Murai Camp
- 128 Sqn 40 IAI Searcher (UAV)
- ? Sqn ? Malat Scout (UAV)
- ? Sqn ? Chukar III (Target Drone)

* Excludes those that might have flown back from 428th FS

[edit] Overseas detachments (Training)

Four RSAF F-16 C/Ds taxi down the runway at Korat, Royal Thai Air Force Base (RTAFB) Thailand, during Exercise COPE TIGER 2003.

Cannon Air Force Base (USA)
- 428 FTS 8 F-16C(Peace Carvin III F-16 Training)

(Sqn Deactivated. Aircraft either transfer to 425 FS at Luke AFB or back to Singapore)

Cazaux Airbase (France)
- 150 Sqn 18 A-4SU / TA-4SU (Advanced Jet Training)

Grand Prairie Municipal Airport (USA)
- 149th AVN 6 CH-47SD (Peace Prairie CH-47 Training)

Kalaikunda Airbase (India)
- SINDEX Exercise with the Indian Air Force

Luke Air Force Base (USA)
- 425 FTS 6 F-16C, 6 F-16D (Peace Carvin II F-16 Training) *

Oakey Airbase (Australia)
- 126 Sqn 12 AS 332M/AS 532UL Super Puma/Cougar (Training and support for army exercises)

Pearce Airbase (Australia)
- 130 Sqn 30 S211 (Pilot selection and basic training)

Silverbell Army Heliport (USA)
- E/1-285th AVN 16 AH-64D (Peace Vanguard AH-64D Training)

* Includes those that have flown from 428th FS

[edit] Personnel

Main article: Singapore Armed Forces ranks

Military ranks in the Singapore Armed Forces are identical across the three services except for the flag ranks of the RSN. They are based on the Army model. The official table of ranks stops at three stars for all three services [1]. NATO rank codes are not officially used, but are listed here for easy comparison with other armed forces.

Like the Navy, the majority of Air Force personnel are regulars. This is due to the specialized and technical nature of many jobs. The employment of National Servicemen in various roles are limited mostly to the infantry-like Field Defence Squadrons which do not require such specialized training.

[edit] Future plans

F-15SG

In February 2003, Singapore joined the JSF program's System Design and Development (SDD) Phase, as a Security Co-operation Participant (SCP). The first deliveries of the F-35 are not expected before 2015, but a replacement for some of the A-4SU Skyhawks is needed by 2007. As a start, 20 F-16D Block 52+ have been delivered from 2003 under project Peace Carvin IV.

The RSAF embarked on the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) programme to replace the aging A-4SU Skyhawks. The original list of competitors was shortlisted to the final two - Dassault Rafale and the F-15SG Strike Eagle. The DSTA (Defense Science & Technology Agency) conducted detailed technical assessment, simulations and other tests to assess the final selection. On 6th September 2005, it was announced that the Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle had won the contract over the Rafale. The initial order will be 12 aircraft with 8 options. Eventually, as many as 40 to 60 aircraft may be procured in several batches. Depending on the status of the F-35 program, more F-15SGs may be bought and the upper limit, as disclosed by the RSAF, is 80 F-15SG aircraft in total. These will likely be based at the new Changi East Airbase. As part of the weapons package for the first batch of aircraft, the U.S. will sell Singapore 200 AIM-120C AMRAAMs, 200 AIM-9X Sidewinders, 50 GBU-38 JDAMs, 30 AGM-154A-1 and 30 AGM-154C JSOWs (Joint Stand-off Weapons), along with 100 KMU-556 GBU-31 JDAM Tail Kit Assemblies.

The RSAF is expected to operate three types of aircraft in the foreseeable future; the F-35s as multirole fighters, the F-15SGs in the air superiority/strike role and the F-16C/Ds in the air defence/attack role. The RSAF also operates Air Defense assets in the form of SAMs and AAA. Some of these are permanently assigned to Divisional units.

In January 2005, it was announced that 6 Sikorsky S-70B (international derivative of SH-60B Seahawk) naval helicopters will be purchased, complete with anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons and sensors. These will be operated by RSAF pilots, with the Republic of Singapore Navy operating the sensors and weaponry. They will be based on the navy 's new Formidable class frigates, and when operating from land will be based at Sembawang Airbase. The first 8 AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters out of a total of 20 have been delivered, achieving pilot IOC.

Current Air to air missiles in RSAF's inventory include the AIM-9M Sidewinder, AIM-9X Sidewinder, AIM-120C AMRAAM, AIM-7M Sparrow, Derby* and Python 4 missiles. Air to ground weapons include, GBU-10/12/16 and other laser-guided munitions, AGM-65 Maverick missiles, Mk 82/83/84 bombs and other classified munitions for special missions.

* speculated but unconfirmed

[edit] Museum

The air force has a museum, which is a large, blue, angular building which is clearly marked. It is located in Airport Road near the Paya Lebar Air Base, and near Eunos MRT Station. It is open to the public except Monday, from 8:30 AM. Admission is free.