Everything about Republic Of Singapore Air Force totally explained
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The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF,
Chinese: 新加坡空军部队;
Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) is the
air force branch of the
Singapore Armed Forces, established in 1968 as the
Singapore Air Defence Command (
SADC).
Mission Statement
The following excerpts was taken from the
official homepage of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
: -
»
Formation History
In January 1968, the British announced the imminent withdrawal of all their troops east of Suez by the end of 1971. Prior to then, Singapore had depended completely on Britain's
Royal Air Force (RAF) for its air defence, while the newly established
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had concentrated its efforts mainly on building up the
army.
The predecessor to the RSAF, the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), was formed in September 1968. The SADC’s immediate task was to set up the Flying Training School to train pilots. Qualified flying instructors were obtained through
Airwork Services Limited, a UK-based company specializing in defence services. Basic training for pilots was carried out using two Cessna light aircraft hired from the Singapore Flying Club. The SADC also enlisted the help of the Royal Air Force who introduced the first flying training syllabus and provided two ex-RAF pilots as instructors, as well as facilities and services at
Seletar Airport. Finally, the first batch of six pilot trainees were sent to the United Kingdom in August 1968 to undergo training in various technical disciplines. The training was based on the
Hawker Hunter, the SADC’s first air defence fighter. The following month, another pioneer group of technicians, this time from the rotary wing, were set to France to begin their technical training on the
Alouette III helicopter. In 1969, a number of local RAF technicians were released to join the fledging SADC. These local technicians had experience working on fixed-wing RAF aircraft such as the
Hunter,
Javelin,
Canberra,
Lightning,
Shackleton and
Nimrod; as well as rotary-wing RAF aircraft such as the
Bristol Belvedere,
Westland Wessex and
Westland Whirlwind.
Eight Cessna 172-H aircraft – the SADC’s first – arrived in May 1969 to be used for basic pilot training. By December, the first batch of students completed the course. Of these, six were sent to the UK to receive further training. With their return to Singapore in 1970, they were ready to operate the then newly-acquired Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft.
The pace of training pilots and ground crew picked up gradually. On 1 Aug 1969, Minister for the Interior and Defence,
Lim Kim San, inaugurated the Flying Training School (FTS) in RAF Tengah (now
Tengah Air Base). The inauguration of FTS brought SADC closer to its goal of assuming the heavy responsibility of defending Singapore's airspace.
The subsequent arrival of the
BAC Strikemasters in 1969, used for advanced phase flying training, meant that pilot trainees were now able to earn their initial wings locally rather than overseas. The first batch of locally trained fighter pilots were trained at the FTS and graduated in Nov 1970. Amongst this batch was 2LT Goh Yong Siang who later rose to the appointment of Chief of Air Force on 1 Jul 1995. Gradually, the SADC had its own pilots, flying instructors, air traffic controllers as well as ground crew.
When Britain brought forward its plan to withdraw its forces by September 1971, the SADC was suddenly entrusted with a huge responsibility and resources. Britain’s former air bases –
Tengah,
Seletar,
Sembawang and
Changi – were handed over to the SADC, as well as its air defence radar station and
Bloodhound II surface-to-air missiles.
In 1973, the SADC procured
Shorts Skyvan search-and-locate aircraft and
A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bombers. With a reliable mix of fighters, fighter-bombers, helicopters and transport aircraft, the SADC was ready to assume the functions of a full-fledged air force. Accordingly, in April 1975, the SADC was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
Organisation
The RSAF is led by the Chief of the Air Force (CAF). The current CAF is
Major 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 (CAMO).
The organisation chart below shows the administrative chain of command with seven
formations:
Tengah Air Base,
Paya Lebar Air Base,
Changi Air Base (West),
Changi Air Base (East),
Sembawang Air Base, Air Defence Systems Division (ADSD) and the Tactical Air Support Command (TASC).
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.
While initially having bought as many as 70 F-16 planes, the early Block 15OCU models will be delivered to Thailand as rent for
Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base in north-east of Thailand. 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.
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
TA-4SU Super Skyhawks in France, almost one third of the inventory is based outside Singapore.
In 1994 the RSAF commenced a 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 Air Base. These upgraded F-5S/T, equipped with the Galileo Avionica's FIAR Grifo-F X-band Radar are thought to be capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile but no actual live-firing has actually been reported yet. For
in-flight refuelling, four KC-135Rs and four KC-130Bs can be counted on to support this RSAF Fighter force of F-16C/Ds and (R)F-5S/Ts.
Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability was introduced in 1987 when four
E-2C Hawkeyes were delivered to 111 Sqn. The duty of Maritime Patrol and Coastal
surveillance is performed by the five Fokker 50 MPA (entering service in 1991), which can be armed with long-range anti-shipping
Harpoon missiles and ASW torpedoes.
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 Skyhawk from front-line 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.
Singapore has ordered a total of twenty
AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters in 2 batches. After a long period of negotiations over the delivery of the sophisticated Longbow Fire Control
Radar, the first aircraft of the initial batch of eight was handed over on May 17, 2002, fitted with the Fire Control Radar. The second batch of 12 Apaches were ordered in 2001, before the first delivery actually took place. All of the initial eight Apaches are based in the
USA. Three of the Apache Longbows returned in January 2006 at the Minister of Defence's request.
Apart from the six CH-47Ds delivered from 1996, a new batch of six aircraft were ordered in 1997, with an option of four extra airframes. At least 12 CH-47D have been delivered and are in service at Sembawang Air Base, it's believed that these had been upgraded to the SD standard prior to delivery. Eight CH-47Ds 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 dozens of C-130Hs, CH-47SDs and AS 332Ms there along with three of the RSN's latest Landing Ship Tanks (RSS Endurance, RSS Persistence and RSS Endeavour of the
Endurance class LST) as well as
Singapore Armed Forces vehicles, engineers and medical teams.
In September of 2005, the Republic of Singapore Air Force sent three
CH-47SD Chinook helicopters, later augmented by a fourth
CH-47SD Chinook, to provide assistance in the rescue and evacuation of stranded civilians after
Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and surrounding areas in the United States . The
humanitarian effort by Singapore involved more aircraft than any other foreign country.
Since 2003, the RSAF has also made deployments of KC-135 tankers and C-130 aircraft to the
Persian Gulf in support of the multinational efforts for the
reconstruction of Iraq. RSAF personnel have carried out airlift, transportation and supply, and air-to-air refueling missions in support of the multinational forces, assisting the
Coalition in carrying supplies and personnel, transporting humanitarian material and conducting medical evacuation operations.
Air Bases
Changi Air Base (West)
- 112 Sqn 4 KC-135R (Aerial refuelling)
- 121 Sqn 4 Fokker 50 (Transport), 5 Fokker 50 ME2 (Maritime patrol)
Changi Air Base (East)
Paya Lebar Air Base
- 122 Sqn 6 C-130H (Transport), 4 KC-130B (Transport/Aerial refuelling)
- 141 Sqn 6 F-5S (Interceptor), 1 F-5T (Training/Interceptor) - Disbanded since Nov 2005 with aircraft being reassigned 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 Air Base
- 120 Sqn 20 AH-64D Longbow Apache (Attack)
- 124 Sqn 4 EC120 Colibri (Training)
- 125 Sqn 19 AS332M Super Puma (Transport/SAR)
- 127 Sqn 12 CH-47SD (Heavylift)
Tengah Air Base
- 111 Sqn 4 E-2C Hawkeye (AEW & C)
- 140 Sqn 7 F-16C (Interceptor), 5 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)
- 143 Sqn 2 F-16C (Interceptor), 10 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)
Chong Pang Camp SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery)
- 3rd DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
- 6th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
- 9th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
- 18th DA Mistral SAM
- 160 Sqn Oerlikon 35 mm AA Guns (Airfield defence)
Lim Chu Kang Camp II SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery)
- 163 Sqn I-Hawk SAM (Medium altitude air defence)
- 165 Sqn Rapier Blindfire SAM (Low altitude air defence)
Other assets of SADA (Singapore Air Defense 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
- 116 Sqn Hermes 450 (Reconnaissance)
- 128 Sqn 40 IAI Searcher (Reconnaissance)
Personnel
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 (External Link). 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 don't require such specialized training.
Overseas detachments (Training)
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)
Luke Air Force Base (USA)
- 425 FTS 5 F-16C, 5 F-16D (Peace Carvin II F-16 Training)
Oakey Airbase (Australia)
- 12 AS532UL Cougar (Training/Support for army exercises)
Pearce Airbase (Australia)
- 130 Sqn 30 S211 (Pilot Selection/Basic Training)
Silverbell Army Heliport (USA)
- E/1-285th AVN 8 AH-64D (Peace Vanguard AH-64D Training)
Future plans
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 replacement for some of the A-4SU Super Skyhawks are 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 Super 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 F-15SG Strike Eagle (formerly the F-15T) is a variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle and is similar in configuration to the F-15K sold to South Korea, but differs in the addition of the APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by Raytheon. The F-15SG will be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 29,400 lbf (131 kN) thrust engines.
The initial order will be 12 aircraft with 8 options. Eventually, as many as 40 to 60 aircraft may be procured in several batches. Pending news on Lockheed Martin's F-35's progress, 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 Tengah Air Base. As part of the weapons package for the first batch of aircraft, the U.S. will provide Singapore with:
200 AIM-120C AMRAAMs
200 s
50 GBU-38 JDAMs
30 AGM-154A-1 and 30 AGM-154C JSOWs (Joint Stand-off Weapons)
100 KMU-556 GBU-31 JDAM Tail Kit Assemblies
A second follow-on weapons package was announced in August 2007, which includes:
28 GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided 2,000 pound bombs
56 GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided 500 pound bombs
126,000 20mm Cartridges for the F-15SG's M61 Vulcan cannon
14,000 BDU-33 Bomb Practice trainers
1,500 MK-84 Bomb Practice trainers
1,500 MK-82 Bomb Practice trainers
Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has on behalf of RSAF, on 22 October 2007, exercised the option to purchase eight more F-15SG fighters which were part of the original contract signed in 2005. Along with this buy, an additional order for four F-15SGs was made. This brings the total number of F-15SG purchased to 24.
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 (derivative of SH-60 Sea Hawk) naval helicopters will be purchased, complete with anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons and sensors. These will be operated by RSAF pilots, with System Specialists of the Republic of Singapore Navy operating the sensors and weaponry. They will operate from the Navy's new Formidable class frigates, and when operating from land will be based at Sembawang Air Base. All 20 AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters have been delivered, achieving pilot IOC. 12 of these Longbow Apaches were deployed back to Singapore and took part in combined arms exercises with the Army.
In April 2007, it was announced that the 4 E-2C Hawkeyes were to be replaced with 4 Gulfstream G550s which would become the primary early warning aircraft of the Singapore Air Force.
Weaponry
Current air to air missiles in the RSAF's inventory include:
AIM-9M Sidewinder,
,
AIM-120C AMRAAM,
AIM-7M Sparrow,
Python-4,
Derby.
Air to surface ordnance include:
GBU-10/GBU-12/GBU-16 and other laser-guided munitions,
AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles,
AGM-84 Harpoon missiles,
AGM-65B/D/G Maverick missiles,
Hydra 70 (APKWS ready) 70 mm rockets,
Zuni 127 mm rockets,
Mk 82/Mk83/Mk84 (500/1000/2000 pound) general purpose bombs,
other classified/undeclared munitions for special missions.
Photo Gallery
Image:RSAF Hawker Hunter.jpg|RSAF 1st fighter aircraft - Hawker Hunter (all currently in storage) with 2nd generation ying-yang styled roundel.
Image:RSAF F-16D.jpg|F-16D prepares for flight.
Image:080123-F-1789V-017.JPEG|An F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force sits on the flight line of Nellis Air Force Base.
Image:DF-SD-05-00479.JPEG|F-16Cs taxi down the runway at Korat, Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand, during Exercise COPE TIGER 2003.
Image:RSAF F-16s 070530-F-3649W-107.jpg|F-16Ds taxi down the runway at Eielson Air Force Base.
Image:Maverick armed RSAF F-5S.jpg|A Maverick armed Northrop F-5S Tiger II.
Image:A-4SU Skyhawk.jpg|A-4SU Skyhawks taxi down the runway of Korat, Royal Thai Air Force Base Thailand, during Exercise COPE TIGER 2002.
Image:111Sqn E-2C Hawkeye.jpg|111Sqn's E-2C Hawkeye.
Image:121Sqn Fokker 50 MPA.jpg|121Sqn's Fokker 50 MPA.
Image:RSAF KC-135R.jpg|Static display of KC-135R during open house.
Image:C-130 Short Field.JPG|C-130H Short field landing.
Image:BAC Strikemaster.jpg|RSAF 1st jet trainer in service - BAC Strikemaster (phased out of service in 1983) with 1st generation RAF styled roundels.
Image:RSAF T-33 Shooting Star.jpg|RSAF 2nd jet trainer in service - Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (phased out of service in 1981) with 2nd generation ying-yang styled roundels.
Image:Alouette III.jpg|RSAF 1st helicopter in service - Alouette III (phased out of service in 1978) with 1st generation RAF styled roundels.
Image:RSAF AH-64D Longbow Apache.jpg|Static display of AH-64D Longbow Apache during open house.
Image:National Day Parade, 2007 2, Aug 07.jpg|National Day Parade, 2007 - A CH-47SD Chinook carrying the State Flag, being escorted by AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Image:National Day Parade, 2007 3, Aug 07.JPG|Another view of the same flight formation.
Image:010713zsingapore-h.jpg|A CH-47SD lands aboard USS Rushmore during Exercise CARAT 2001.
Image:010720carat-h.jpg|U.S. Army soldiers board a Super Puma on the flight deck of the USS Rushmore during Exercise CARAT 2001.
Image:Singapore navy Super Puma.jpg|USN chalk and chainmen secure a RSAF Super Puma to the flight deck of dock landing ship USS Harpers Ferry during deck landing qualifications (DLQs) as part of the Singapore stage of Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2007.
Image:RSAF Super Puma.jpg|A Super Puma takes off from the flight deck of the RSS Resolution - an Endurance class LST. Visible in the foreground is the Aircraft Ship Integrated Secure and Traverse (ASIST) system.
Image:Bloodhound Mk.II SAM.jpg|RSAF 1st SAM - Bloodhound Mk.II SAM (phased out of service in 2005) with 2nd generation ying-yang styled roundels.
Image:Giraffe_S_3D_radar.jpg|Giraffe S 3D radar.
Image:Oerlikon 35mm twin cannon.jpg|Oerlikon 35mm twin cannon.
Image:Towed Rapier SAM.jpg|Under tow, Rapier SAM system.
Image:RBS70.jpg|RBS70 SAM.
Image:M-113 Ultra IFV Integrated Fire Unit.jpg|M-113A2 Ultra IFV with Igla SAM/Integrated Fire Unit.
Image:M-113 Ultra IFV Integrated Fire Unit 2.jpg|M-113A2 Ultra IFV with Igla SAM/Integrated Fire Unit.
Assets
Museum
The RSAF maintains the Air Force Museum, which is open to the public and showcases the air force's history and capabilities. The museum is located along Airport Road beside Paya Lebar Air Base, near Eunos MRT Station.
In popular culture
Fictional Television programs
Airforce (空军), 10 April 1988 This Chinese language drama series was filmed and produced by Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now defunct, a forerunner of MediaCorp TV, Singapore). Theme song of this drama series can be found uploaded on youtube.Further Information
Get more info on 'Republic Of Singapore Air Force'.
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