Page 16 - ADT JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 Digital Magazine | GBP
P. 16

2019. XFS 2019 took place at Mountain Home   [ ANALYSIS ]
                                                                       Air Force Base (MHAFB), Idaho for the first
                                                                       time and included RSAF assets such as F-15SG,
                                                                       F-16C/D, AH-64D Apaches, Heron 1 Unmanned
                                                                       Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with the maiden par-
                                                                       ticipation of the A330-MRTT in an overseas
                                                                       exercise.  Also  participating  in  the  exercise
                                                                       where Singapore Army commandos.

                                                                       "The successful execution of integrated strike
                                                                       operations in both daytime and night-time envi-
                                                                       ronments is testament to the SAF's capabilities,
                                                                       and to the professionalism and competency
                                                                       of our servicemen and women. Such training
                                                                       opportunities are precious, as the vast land
        The RSAF will now establish a Fighter Training Detachment at  and airspace allow us to simulate realistic and
        Andersen Air Force Base (AAFB), granting it access to the vast  challenging scenarios for our training. We are
        training airspace in Guam. Its fighter aircraft had been deployed  very grateful to the United States Air Force and
        earlier to AAFB for fighter training with the United States Pacific Air  the Mountain Home community for the support
        Force (US PACAF). The agreement covers the deployment of the  provided throughout this exercise,” said XFS19
        RSAF's F-15SG and F-16 fighter aircraft and other supporting assets  Exercise Director Brigadier-General Ho Kum
        such as the Gulfstream 550 – Airborne Early Warning (G550-AEW)  Luen added, The exercise was also witnessed
        to AAFB for training.                                          by Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General
                                                                       Melvyn  Ong  and  Chief  of  Air  Force  Major-
        Prior to deciding on AAFB for combat aircrew training, the RSAF  General (MG) Kelvin Khong also attended the
        conducted in-depth studies with the US on a number of factors,  exercices.
        including suitability of the training area, infrastructure and other
        types of support. Training has been underway with U.S. forces  Another training partnership that has gone to
        in Guam with the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) since the early  from strength to strength is that of the RSAF
        1990s, with the Singapore Army undertaking bilateral exercises with  and the Indian Air Force (IAF) now have strong
        the US Marine Corps and the Republic of Singapore Navy's partici-  ties and undertook their 10th Joint Military
        pation in bilateral and multi-lateral exercises in the waters off Guam.  Training (JMT) at Air Force Station Kalaikunda
        The priceless training that can be gained at overseas venues can be  in India, from 31 October to 12 December 2019.
        gauged by what was achieved at the seventh instalment of Exercise  Six RSAF F-16C/Ds trained alongside six IAF
        Forging Sabre (XFS 19), which was held in September/October  SU-30MKI fighter aircraft. The scope of the

        16 | January/February 2020                                                 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT
   11   12   13   14   15   16   17   18   19   20   21