My feature on Singapore's F-5 interceptors on AFM

My 6-page article on Singapore's Northrop F-5 Tiger II interceptors is in March 2011's issue of Air Forces Monthly (Key Publishing, UK). Available for purchase now at Key Publishing or coming soon to a newsagent near you!

J-20 emergence re-ignites Asia's interest in the F-35

Even as new problems surface for the troubled JSF program, the unexpected appearance of the Chinese J-20 has reportedly re-ignited interest towards the F-35 from East Asia's air forces. According to Lockheed-Martin, Japan, Singapore and South Korea have recently held bilateral talks with the US government on potential F-35 sales.

Singapore inaugurates S-70B Seahawks

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has inaugurated its six Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk anti-submarine helicopters into 123 Sqn in a ceremony at Sembawang Airbase yesterday. The helicopters will operate from the Republic of Singapore Navy's six Formidable-class frigates.

Elbit lands combat training deal with Asian country

Elbit Systems has secured an $18 million order to supply its Ehud air combat manoeuvring instrumentation system to an unspecified Asian air force. While the article speculates the customer could be South Korea, Singapore and India are two other Asian nations known to be currently using the Ehud rangeless ACMI system.

Singapore offers Super Pumas to Australia for flood relief

Singapore has made available to Australia its Super Puma helicopters for flood relief operations in central Queensland if required. Heavy rains have caused severe flooding in a number of central Queensland towns, including Emerald and Rockhampton. The RSAF has approximately 12 helicopters assigned to its training detachment in nearby Oakey.

Commemorative video of 30 years of Elang Indopura

The Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Tentera Nasional Indonesia - Angkatan Udara (Indonsian Air Force) has released a video commemorating the 30th Anniversary of Exercise Elang Indopura, a biennial exercise between the two air forces.

Singapore expresses interest in refurbished P-3s

Lockheed has revealed that Singapore has issued a letter to request to possibly look at acquiring surplus US Navy P-3 Orion Maritime Patrol Aircraft. Its expected that Singapore is looking at 4-5 aircraft, in a similar configuration to the P-3s to be delivered to Taiwan in 2012.

Saudi F-15 training to be conducted at Mountain Home

There will now to be two different organizations called the RSAF at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho. The US Air Force has announced that Mountain Home is their preferred alternative to host a twelve-aircraft Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SA maintenance and flying training unit. The Republic of Singapore Air Force already has a F-15SG training unit attached to the USAF's 366th Fighter Wing based there.

Photos from Elang Indopura

The guys at indoflyer.net have been busy with photos from the ongoing Elang Indopura exercise between the Singapore and Indonesia Air Forces at Ngurah Rai Airport, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia. Good photos of the TNI-AU's F-16s and newly delivered Su-30s abound.

Indonesia, Singapore conduct Ex Elang Indopura 16/10

The Indonesian and Singaporean air forces are currently conducting Ex Elang Indopura in Indonesia's West Nusa Tenggara Province. The host nation is contributing F-5E/F Tiger IIs, F-16s and Su-30s while the RSAF has sent its F-15SGs, F-16s and F-5s.

Ex Commando Sling 11-1 begins

The USAF's Pacific Air Forces has announced the start of the first of FY 2011's Commando Sling exercises with the Republic of Singapore AF. F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 51st Fighter Wing, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, are participating in the first iteration at Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore. Other PACAF units will take part in two further iterations throughout 2011.

Singapore Apache forced landing due to corroded valve

A corroded Anti-Ice Start Bleed Valve has been blamed for the emergency landing of the RSAF AH-64D Apache in late September. The defective component led to the loss of power and shut-down of both engines during flight, forcing the crew to make an emergency landing in an open field next to Sembawang Airbase in northern Singapore

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.

Singapore to deploy Fokker 50s Maritime Patrol Aircraft for anti-piracy

For the first time, Singapore will deploy the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Fokker 50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) to the Gulf of Aden for anti-piracy missions. The RSAF operates nine Fokker 50s, four transports and five MPAs. Singapore has already sent ships to the region in anti-piracy operations.

Singapore to Continue F-16 Pilot Training at Tucson

Singapore has requested to continue F-16 pilot training at the Arizona ANG Base at Tucson for the Republic of Singapore Air Force. The program is to last three years with an option to extend at the end of the stated period. The RSAF currently operates 60 F-16C/Ds.

Singapore suspends Seahawk, Apache training flights

The Defence Ministry in Singapore has announced that the Republic of Singapore Air Force has suspended training flights for it's fleet of AH-64D Apache and S-70 Seahawk helicopters after yesterdays crash landing of an RSAF Apache. Both types are powered the General Electric T700 series of engines.

See Related Photo Gallery

Photo Gallery: RSAF Apache crash landing

I have put up a photo gallery of yesterday's incident involving a Republic of Singapore Air Force Apache attack helicopter. The photos have been gathered from various news sources.

BREAKING NEWS: RSAF Apache crash lands

A Republic of Singapore Air Force AH-64D Apache has crash landed on an open field near its base in Sembawang in Singapore's north. Neither the crew or civilians on the ground were unhurt.

From photos at the site of the incident, the tail section has broken off. It looks like the aircraft is a write off.

The Singapore Ministry of Defence has issued a short statement regarding the incident.






Military personnel inspect a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AH-64 Apache helicopter as it sits in an open field after crash landing in the Woodlands area in northern Singapore September 30, 2010. Singapore's Ministry of Defence said the helicopter made a forced landing in the field, and the pilots appeared uninjured, local media reported. REUTERS/Vivek Prakash (SINGAPORE - Tags: TRANSPORT MILITARY DISASTER)

Location of crash site based on Mindef's statement. The site is to the left of Point A on the image. The forested area to the right is Sembawang Airbase.

(Click on image to view high res version)

More on that Singapore M-346 order

More details have emerged regarding the purchase of the Alenia-Aermacchi M-346 jet trainer by the Republic of Singapore Air Force, with Singapore Technologies Aerospace (ST Aero), Alenia-Aermacchi and Boeing putting out press releases and/or statements. The contract is worth US$543 million for aircraft acquisition, the ground-based training system and associated spares, with Boeing providing the ground-based training system and training likely to continue in Cazaux, France.

See Flightglobal's article as well as ST Aero's press release.

RSAF makes official M-346 announcement

Two months after the industry was abuzz with the news, Singapore's Ministry of Defence has announced that the Alenia Aermacchi M-346 has been declared the winner for the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Advanced Jet Trainer competition. 12 aircraft will be ordered, with Singapore Technologies being the overall program manager.