Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 26 Sept 2013

Kadena-based F-15C Eagle

Aircraft from the USS George Washington have conducted a joint exercise between the U.S. Navy and Air Force. USAF participants comprised of F-22s and F-15s from Kadena Air Base in Okinawa.

Demonstrating the global nature of their training, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's U.S.-based F-15s will train with the American, Canadian and German air forces in Idaho, while their F-16s are flying with the Indonesian Air Force and AH-64 Apaches and CH-47 Chinooks have been ferried to Australia to take part in Exercise Wallaby.

As if highlighting how they need replacement, a South Korean Northrop F-5E Tiger II has crashed. The pilot successfully ejected from the stricken jet.

The Chengdu J-10 fighter needs an export licence before it could be exported to overseas customers. There has reportedly been interest, though.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 10 Sept 2013

Delayed by the grounding following a recent crash, two KAI-T-50 trainers are currently on a delivery flight to Indonesia. The two jets will make stopovers in Taiwan and the Philippines for refueling before landing on Indonesia's Iswahyudi Air Force base on Wednesday. Here's a photo of one of the Indonesian T-50s by South Korea's Yonhap news.

According to this AIP Supplement issued by Airservices Australia, Singapore's F-16s will be taking part in the upcoming Exercise Wallaby 2013 to be held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. A Singapore Armed Forces annual combined arms exercise, it will also involve Singapore Air Force Super Puma, Chinook and Apache helicopters.

My latest piece for The Diplomat Magazine is up online. Aircraft Carriers or Not? Flattops in the Pacific surveys the recent proliferation of through-deck helicopters carriers in the region and looks at their potential for operating fixed wing aircraft.

Singapore AF in Australia for Ex Wallaby

Over the past few weeks several Republic of Singapore Air Force aircraft have been flying into Rockhampton, Queensland in support of the annual Exercise Wallaby. On Friday the 15th of October, six F-16D Block 52+ from 145 (Hornet) Sqn arrived at Rockhampton via Darwin, supported by a KC-135 Stratotanker and C-130H Hercules. They were preceded by 2 CH-47SD Chinooks of 127 Sqn in early October which flew into Rockhampton via Darwin, Mount Isa and Longreach and supported by another C-130.

In addition four AH-64D Apaches of 120 Sqn are also in Rockhampton for the exercise, having flown in by a Volga-Dnepr Antonov 124 in early October. They are joined by AS332M Super Pumas from the RSAF detachment in nearby Oakey.