Page 10 - ADT JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2021 Online Magazine

and partner nations expressed their interest in undertaking F-35 RSAF’s AS-332 Super Puma helicopters were
training at a U.S.-based F-35 training facility. This new training fully operational by 1986. "The new aircraft
center will have capacity for up to 36 fighter aircraft. The RSAF’s gives us greater flexibility in our missions with
F-16 fighter training detachment is to also be relocated from Luke its longer range. It is also more manoeuvrable,
Air Force Base, Arizona to Selfridge Air National Guard Base at while being more stable. The H225M can fly
Harrison Township, Michigan. The RSAF also operates at other further and longer, giving it a range that is 20
U.S. Air Force bases. A summary of RSAF training detachments per cent longer than that the AS332M and with [ COVER STORY ]
in the U.S. comprises of the 425th Fighter Squadron which cur- its higher load capacity, can carry more than
rently flies F-16s out of Luke AFB, Arizona; the 428th FS which flies 20 personnel, 11 stretchers or up to 4,750kg of
F-15SGs from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho; and the RSAF AH-64D underslung cargo.
helicopter detachments operating from Silverbell Army Heliport in
Marana, Arizona. SO WHEN WE HAVE TO
UNDERTAKE COMPLEX MISSIONS,
The RSAF will also permanently maintain a training presence
on Guam beginning around 2029, consisting of approximately a SUCH AS SAR OR HADR, THE
squadron of aircraft and associated personnel, and include the OPERATORS HAVE MORE
construction of hangars, aprons, and support facilities for the CONFIDENCE IN ACHIEVING
THE MISSION SAFELY AND
SUCCESSFULLY," said Captain (CPT)
Darryl Chong, a RSAF helicopter pilot.

The H225M also has an enhanced double
hoist system, which has longer cables and a
faster motor. While the double hoist adds an
added element of safety for rescue operations,
the increased winching speed allows winch-
men to be inserted faster and casualties to be
extracted sooner. The longer cables allow the
aircraft to hover from a higher height to avoid
taller obstacles.

The RSAF is now receiving new CH-47F Heavy
Lift Helicopters from Boeing. The initial delivery
was made to the RSAF Helicopter Detachment
in Oakey, Australia and has now transitioned to
helicopters being delivered in Singapore. The
CH-47F helicopters will progressively replace
the RSAF’s older Chinooks CF-47Ds, that have
been in service since 1994. The new helicopters
are fitted with a fully integrated, digital cockpit
management system, that provides pilots with
greater information of their surrounding and
advanced autopilot capabilities.

Most recently, the CH-47F helicopters partic-
ipated in their inaugural Exercise Wallaby in
Queensland, Australia, and carried out deck
landing operations with the Landing Ship Tank
RSS Endeavour. Training for the crew of both
detachment footprint. The Singapore fighter presence on Guam will the H225M and CH-47F began in 2020 ahead
provide more training and cooperation opportunities and strengthen of the RSAF taking delivery of both assets in
U.S.-Singapore defence ties. March and May of 2021 respectively. The new
helicopters will complement the RSAF's fleet
providing it with a robust lift capability for a
New Rotors wide range of operations including Search and
The RSAF is also inducting new H225M multi-role helicopters Rescue, aeromedical evacuation, troop lift,
which will replace the RSAF's existing fleet of AS332M Super fire-fighting and Humanitarian Assistance and
Pumas, which have been in service for almost four decades. The Disaster Relief operations.

10 | January/February 2022 WWW .GBP .COM.SG/ ADT