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Peacekeeping - Republic of Singapore Air Force

While the RSAF travels the world to train, learn and make friends, it also renders help to others who are in need. Countries including Indonesia, Vietnam, India, Taiwan and the Philippines are among the recent nations which we have extended our humanitarian aid and relief contributions to.

The SAF first participated in a UN peacekeeping mission in 1989 when 14 SAF officers were sent as part of the Singapore contingent to help supervise the elections in Namibia under the banner of the UN Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG). Since then, the SAF has participated in 12 other UN missions, including humanitarian aid to Saudi Arabia (1991), UNAVEM II in Angola (1991-92), UNTAC in Cambodia (1993), UNOMSA in South Africa (1994), UNSCOM (1996) as part of the UN Special Commission inspection team to Iraq to carry out verification of Iraq's compliance with UN Security Council resolutions, MINUGUA in Guatemala (1997), UNSMA in Afghanistan (1997-98), UNMEE in Ethiopia and Eritrea (2001), and UNIKOM where the SAF's participation is in its 13th year. The latest UN missions were INTERFET, UNTAET and UNMISET, respectively, in East Timor (now known as Timor Leste).

The first RSAF detachment in support of UN missions was in 1993. In May 1993, the UN requested Singapore's support for UNTAC, the UN mission overseeing the electoral process in Cambodia. The RSAF responded by sending four Super Puma helicopters and 65 servicemen to Cambodia for a one-month tour of duty. RSAF's recent support of UN missions was the detachment of four UH-1H helicopters from 120 Squadron in support of UNMISET in Timor Leste. It was the RSAF's first long-term contribution to UN peacekeeping operations.

The UN provides a framework for nations big and small to cooperate to enhance international peace and security. Through UN peacekeeping missions, RSAF personnel have an opportunity to interact and work hand-in-hand with personnel from other countries for the common good of international peace and security. Participation in peacekeeping operations has also exposed our personnel to the harsh realities faced by countries recovering from war, besides reinforcing the message that Singapore cannot take the peace and security of the country for granted. Despite our limited resources, the RSAF, and indeed the SAF, continue to do its part for the international community.

Singapore responded to a UN request for support in UNTAC by sending four Super Puma helicopters and 65 servicemen to Cambodia for a one-month tour of duty from May 1993 to June 1993. The helicopter detachment provided transport for the election officials, ballot boxes and medical casualties as well as conducted aerial policing for UNTAC.

After East Timor gained its independence, the peacekeeping operations in East Timor were changed from UNTAET to UNMISET. At the request of the UN, Singapore has increased her peacekeeping efforts in Timor Leste. SAF's Platoon Task Force has been expanded into a Company Task Force (CTF), which will serve with the Thai Battalion in the south-west sector of Timor Leste. A 72-man Air Support Crew consisting of Pilots, Air Crew, Technicians and other support staff, and four UH-1H helicopters from the RSAF were also deployed alongside the CTF. This is the first time that full-time National Servicemen (NSF) and NSmen volunteers have been deployed as combat peacekeepers.