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Exercises - Republic of Singapore Air Force

To hone the professional competence of RSAF airmen further, multilateral and bilateral exercises are conducted with the air forces of foreign countries, allowing the RSAF to train and benchmark itself against the very best in the world. In the RSAF, the training journey never concludes, and it is by venturing beyond our horizons that we fulfil our advanced training requirements. To an unknowing spectator, these horizons may signify the mere extremes of the skies. In the eyes of the RSAF, however, they represent the gateway that leads into a boundless world of training opportunities.

While the promise of immediate professional gains in a joint exercise is appealing, in time to come, however, it is the exchange of friendship and goodwill that would serve to open windows of opportunity for the future. The RSAF today operates a total of 10 long-term detachments (one in Brunei, three in Australia, one in France and five in USA, in increasing geographical distance from Singapore), and numerous shortterm detachments in overseas locations throughout the world. By enhancing interaction with our host countries, these detachments foster mutual understanding and rapport, creating the potential for greater cooperation.

High level officials from foreign air forces such as the French Air Force (FAF), the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) and the United States Air Force (USAF) have also visited Singapore. Indeed, the Millennium Air Power Conference held in 2000, an occasion graced by representation from 60 air forces, was the surest indication of the RSAF's network of friends all over the world.

The RSAF routinely deploys its fighters, transports and helicopters to Pekan Baru, Indonesia, lasting three to four weeks for each deployment. Training conducted includes Air Combat Manoeuvering Instrumentation (ACMI), air-to-ground and navigation training. RSAF's participation at Ex Elang Indopura offers opportunities for RSAF to fly with the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU).

RSAF's Super Pumas have been deployed to the Army Aviation Centre in Oakey, Queensland since September 1998. The good weather there allows 126 Squadron to conduct the Continuation and Operational Conversion Training. The Super Pumas also support Army training in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area. About 160 RSAF personnel and their families are based there. SAF troops participate in Ex Wallaby at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. Key activities involving the RSAF include armour and heliborne support exercises. The annual exercise allows the SAF to strengthen its state of operational readiness by undergoing training in a challenging and realistic environment. A Memorandum of Understanding signed in 1992 allows us to deploy fighters to Darwin and Amberley as well as C-130s to Richmond 10.5 months out of a whole year. RSAF fighters and helicopters are also deployed to Rockhampton to participate in exercises.

Even further from Singapore's shores, about twice a year, RSAF deploys its fighters to Korat and helicopters to Koke Kathiem. Training conducted includes Air Combat Manoeuvring Instrumentation (ACMI) and air-to-ground training. Ex Cope Tiger is a trilateral exercise among Singapore, Thailand and the United States air forces. Since 1994, the exercise has been helping to enhance professionalism and interoperability among the participating air forces, and promote closer relations and rapport among the countries.

Since 1978, the RSAF has maintained a detachment of UH-1Hs in Brunei. Among the many places RSAF trains in is South Africa, where RSAF's UAV has training detachments at Hoedspruit Air Force Base. RSAF even participates in the local air shows periodically.

Ex Cope Thunder, a multilateral air combat exercise, is conducted in Alaska, USA. Air forces of France, Japan, Singapore, Spain, the United Kingdom and United States participate in this exercise. The first deployment, Peace Carvin I, or PC I, was established in 1988 and ended in 1990. The second, PC II, which started in 1993 is still ongoing. This programme allows F-16 training to be carried out at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. About 130 servicemen and women are there, along with their families. Under the Peace Guardian program, RSAF pilots are exposed to a wide range of airrefuelling demands, and participate in highend exercises with a variety of tanker and receiver aircraft. The RSAF Peace Prairie detachment trains with the US Texas Army National Guard on the Chinook helicopter. About 150 RSAF personnel and their families are based in Grand Prairie. The Chinook helicopters are used for search-and-rescue, recovery operations and supporting the SAF's overseas training. The Apache enhances the SAF's conventional fighting capabilities as it is highly effective in a wide range of scenarios. The Peace Vanguard program gives the RSAF Apache Squadron valuable access to firing ranges and training with the US Arizona Army National Guard to attain higher levels of operational readiness.

The Emergency Runway exercise is an important exercise conducted to hone the RSAF's operational capabilities and to demonstrate the ability of the RSAF to execute the mission effectively. Emergency runways can be activated for aircraft with emergencies when their landing may hamper the operations of the airbases. Because of land scarcity in Singapore, using a public road as an emergency runway is a necessary and logical option to enhance the RSAF's operational capability.