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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
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