Focus on Resilience: RSAF to EnhanceTengah and Changi Air Bases

Our Bureau - : Feb 3, 2026 - : 7:46 pm

As part of its attempts to become more resilient, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is enhancing Tengah Air Base and Changi Air Base with smart digital capabilities, unmanned vehicles, robust infrastructure and upgraded defence systems.

According to Major-General Kelvin Fan, Chief of Air Force, the service is also diversifying its supply chains and capabilities to better withstand disruptions. “Beyond building strong partnerships with our vendors, this also entails a highlow mix of platforms, complementary kinetic and non-kinetic effectors, as well as an optimised mix of manned and unmanned aircraft.” RSAF also needs innovative people who can adapt to changing conditions and have the grit to overcome challenges, he added

Digital Readiness

The service places a lot of emphasis on innovation and digital readiness, Major General Fan stressed. “We want our airmen and women to be future-ready with relevant skills. We have incorporated innovation and digital training at various junctures in a person’s development, set up agile innovation squads to implement initiatives in the units, and enhanced the performance of our people through the use of wearables and data science. Today, our people win several local and international awards for innovation.” The RSAF is continuously looking for ways to strengthen its safety culture and systems, the Air Force Chief said. “We have strengthened partnerships locally and internationally to learn, exchange and benchmark our safety system. We have embarked on leveraging data science and artificial intelligence to enhance safety reporting, education, trend analysis and to enable proactive safety interventions.”

Focus on Safety

The RSAF continues to build the capabilities of the Island Air Defence (IAD) System that safeguard Singapore’s skies using multi-layered and networked sensors, weapons systems, and command and control elements. “As part of a regular refresh of our capabilities, the RSAF is assessing a suitable replacement for the FPS-117 radar that has been operating since 1998.

“The RSAF is also replacing our Portable Search and Target Acquisition Radar (PSTAR), which has supported the Divisional Air Defence Group (DAG) for the past 25 years, with the Giraffe 1X Radar from Saab,” Major General Fan said. “The Giraffe 1X will enhance our ability to detect a wider range of aerial threats, including small drones, and will provide vital short-range surveillance to support the Army’s operations. To further improve mobility and expand air defence coverage, we will also acquire the URO Vehículo de Alta Movilidad Táctico (VAMTAC) vehicle, which will mount our RBS-70 or Giraffe 1X.”

The Air Force Chief also stressed the importance of multilateral and bilateral exercises that help the service enhance professional exchanges and foster mutual trust with key partners. Last May, the RSAF commemorated 45 years of defence relations with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) at Exercise Elang Indopura. The seventh edition of the bilateral Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX) Malsing was successfully conducted last September with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). As part of the exercise, the RSAF and RMAF conducted medical evacuation operations in both day and night scenarios for the first time. This year, the service will participate in the 30th edition of a bilateral exercise with the Royal Brunei Air Force (RBAirF), as well as other multilateral exercises such as Exercise Cope Tiger in Thailand, the Red Flag series in the United States, and Exercise Pitch Black in Australia