Page 18 - ADT JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2020 Digital Magazine | GBP

recently concluded exercises was expanded to from the USA. PC V was got underway in November 2009. [ ANALYSIS ]
include an air-sea training component for the The RSAF has been training its rookie fighter pilots in France for
first time, with assets from the Indian Navy sup- over two decades now, in what has emerged as a highly successful
porting. Conducted under the ambit of the Air training partnership between the two nations. The 20th anniversary
Force Bilateral Agreement, inked in 2007 and of the RSAF’s Advanced Jet Training (AJT) programme at Cazaux
recently renewed in 2017, the exercises allow Air Base in France took place in 2018. Cazaux Air Base itself has
both air forces to hone their operational skills a rich history of more than 100 years and was established in 1914.
and enhance interoperability through high-end More than two decades ago, the RSAF initially deployed 10 A4-SU
Air Combat and Mission-Oriented training. Super Skyhawk aircraft, and with it 200 RSAF personnel, 140
“Since the conduct of the first JMT in 2008, dependents, included trainer pilots, trainee pilots, maintenance
the exercise has grown in scale and complex- staff. The Super Skyhawk fleet later grew to 18 aircraft. The RSAF
ity with advanced fighter assets from both A-4SU Super Skyhawks which were operational since 1995, were
countries training together to enhance our refurbished versions of the A-4 Skyhawks acquired by Singapore
interoperability. The scope of the exercise, in 1974. The RSAF will continue to train at Cazaux, until the training
which includes both air-to-air and air-to-sur- agreement comes up for renewal in 2035. More than 250 RSAF
face scenarios, provides realistic training and instructors, trainees, engineers, support staff and their families are
increases the operational readiness for both air based at Cazaux.
forces,” said JMT, Commander of the RSAF's
Air Combat Command, Brigadier-General Ho Since 1998, approximately 200 Singaporean pilots have received
Kum Luen. their advanced pilot training in France and 150 Squadron has now
logged over forty thousand hours of flying training over the Landes
Long-Standing Partnerships forest, the target centre of Captieux and the aerial zones of Golfe
The RSAF’s Peace Carvin V (PC V) detach- de Gascogne. Since 2014, 150 Sqn has been using the M-346
ment celebrated 10 years of F-15SG fighter advanced jet trainer to prepare aircrew trainees for their leap to
aircraft training at Mountain Home Air Force operational flying in the F-15SG and F-16s. The RSAF was also the
Base (MHAFB), Idaho in October 2019. “The first air arm to commence ab-initio flying training on the M-346 and
PC V detachment… has been the anchor of by June 2018, the fleet had clocked 10,000 flying hours. The M-346
the RSAF's F-15SG program, where we vali- better replicates the flight performance and avionics of the RSAF's
date our warfighting doctrines, and qualify a F-15SGs and F-16s and both Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers
steady flow of F-15SG pilots, weapon systems receive training to handle more sophisticated systems in a more
officers, and instructors. … The rapid build-up realistic training environment at an earlier stage in their training.
of the F-15SG and the success of the PC V The RSAF’s 12 M-346s are maintained by ST Aerospace, who also
detachment are only possible because of your provide both simulator instructors and operate and maintain an
steadfast support throughout these past ten integrated training system made by Boeing.
years. Air Combat Command, Mountain Home
Air Force Base, 366th Fighter Wing and the Tanking Up
428th Fighter Squadron – thank you very much The RSAF’s operationalisation of the A330-MRTT is on track and
for being such a trusted partner and a gracious progressing well. The aircraft made its first appearance at the
host,” said Senior Minister of State for Defence RSAF50 Parade in September 2018. Crew training has progressed
Heng Chee How. The Peace Carvin programme smoothly and the mid-air tanker made its first participation in over-
commenced in 1988 with the PC I detachment seas exercise, a year later during Exercise Forging Sabre (XFS
following the RSAF acquisition of F-16A/Bs 19), held in September/October 2019. XFS 2019 marked not only

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