Here are some of the highlights:
Republic of Singapore AF Black Knights (F-16C Fighting Falcon)
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Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles (KAI T-50B Golden Eagle)
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Indonesian Air Force Jupiter (KAI KT-1)
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United States Marine Corps Boeing MV-22B Osprey
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Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
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More videos of the aerial displays at Singapore Airshow 2014 on Tonkatsu298's Youtube page
Republic of Singapore Air Force F-15SG of 149 Sqn
In a ceremony held at Paya Lebar Airbase, the Republic of Singapore Air Force has declared that its F-15SG Eagles are fully operational with 149 Squadron. The first aircraft was delivered in May 2009 to a U.S-based training squadron.
Japan's Defense Ministry has said that it will consider shooting down UAVs that enter its territory. Which is fine and good, not to mention a natural reaction, but the problem is that no UAVs (Chinese or otherwise) has violated its airspace (yet).
Meanwhile, an Okinawa-based U.S Marine General has said that Marine MV-22 Osprey tiltrotors based in Okinawa could be sent to the disputed Senkaku/Diaoyu Islands if required.
AV-8B Harrier II of VMA-214 Blacksheep
Marine Corps aviation units based in Japan, in addition to those attached to the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit which is currently embarked on board the ships of the Bonhomme Richard Amphibious Ready Group, are currently training with embarked 31st MEU Marines, the 5th Royal Australian Regiment and Marine Rotational Force–Darwin during Exercise Koolendong 2013, a bilateral exercise taking place at the Bradshaw Field Training Area in the Northern Territory starting 27 Aug. for approximately two weeks.
Exercise Koolendong 2013 is designed as a “proof of concept” to assess the capacity of the Bradshaw Field Training Area to accommodate live-fire training for battalion-sized units of approximately 1,000 personnel and demonstrate the capabilities that U.S. amphibious forces can provide.
The exercise will feature day and night live-fire training that includes light and heavy machine guns, mortars, artillery and aviation-delivered ordnance from AV-8B Harriers from the 31st MEU (attached from VMA-214 Blacksheep) and FA/18D Hornets from VMFA-242 Bats. Additionally, three KC-130Js from the Sumos of VMGR-152 will provide tanker and transport support while MV-22 Ospreys, CH-53E Super Stallions and UH-1Y Hueys from VMM-265 (Reinforced) will provide assault support transportation from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) operating at sea.
The Bradshaw Field Training Area is a remote training range in the Northern Territory, Australia; it is approximately 200 miles south/southwest from Darwin and is over 3,300 square miles in size.
In a further sign of its interest, local media is reporting that Japan is looking to purchase the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft for the Japan Ground Self-Defense Forces. I hope this happens, the Osprey should look pretty darn good in JGSDF camo!
This video from the Associated Press shows a United States Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft landing on board the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopter destroyer JS Hyuga (DDH-181) off the California coast as part of Exercise Dawn Blitz. Dawn Blitz is a scenario-driven exercise led by the U.S. 3rd Fleet and 1st Marine Expeditionary Force that will test participants in the planning and execution of amphibious operations through a series of live training events.
This marks the first occasion an Osprey has landed on a JMSDF ship, with the aircraft coming from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (VMM-161) "Greyhawks" based at nearby Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.
Related Links:
Marines land Osprey aircraft on Japanese ship (Associated Press)
Images: MV-22 Osprey lands on Japanese destroyer (DVIDS)
In a wide-ranging interview with Second Line of Defence, the Commanding Office of Okinawa-based 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit has revealed that 10 Boeing MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft from Marine Medium Tilitrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 will deploy to Australia for the forthcoming Exercise Talisman Sabre. It is expected that seven Ospreys will operate from the Wasp-class amphibious assault ship USS BonHomme Richard (LHD-6) while three others will fly to Australia under their own power.
Some, or all of the Ospreys will then continue training with the Australia-based U.S Marine detachment in Australia's Northern Territories after Talisman Sabre, which runs from July 15 to August 5 2013 and will be held mainly in Northern and Central Queensland. The Marine exercises in the NT are expected to last till September.
This will mark the first visit by the V-22 Osprey and the BonHomme Richard to Australia, with both VMM-265 and the "Bonnie Dick" having arrived on station in MCAS Futenma in Okinawa and Sasebo Naval Base in Japan respectively in 2012. Talisman Sabre is a biennial joint Australia-United States military exercise held in Australia. Other than amphibious forces, recent Talisman Sabre exercises have seen deployments by US Navy carrier groups, land-based Marine F/A-18 Hornets and US Air Force F-15 Eagles. At this moment, it is unclear what other US forces will be involved in Talisman Sabre 2013.
U.S. Marine Corps photos by Sgt. Daniel K. Brown. Click on thumbnail for high resolution
The first photos of the controversial MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft in the markings of Futenma-based Marine Medium Tilitrotor Squadron (VMM) 265 have appeared, with these photos dated September 21st recently being published on Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni's website. Of note is the Japanese character "Ryu" (Dragon) appearing on the tail of both Ospreys, along with VMM-265's EP tailcode. The squadron, named the Dragons, had recently transitioned to the Osprey from its venerable CH-46 Sea Knights.
Marine Corps aircrews have begun conducting MV-22 aircraft functional check flights and pilot proficiency flights aboard MCAS Iwakuni. These flights, which will occur over the next several weeks, will take place mostly over water, with any overland portion conducted within the MCAS Iwakuni airspace and traffic pattern.
The VMM-265 aircraft will eventually operate out of Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, in Okinawa. The United States says that basing the Osprey in Okinawa will significantly strengthen the United States’ ability to provide for the defense of Japan, perform humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations and fulfill other alliance roles. However, Okinawa locals have vociferously opposed the basing of the Ospreys at Futenma, citing noise and safety concerns with Futenma being surrounded by built up civilian areas.
A U.S.-Japan working committee struck an agreement calling for the Marine Corps to avoid low-altitude flying and to conduct most conversions of the MV-22 from helicopter to airplane mode within airspace over military bases. The Ospreys will replace the CH-46 Sea Knights, with the Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) now re-designated as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265).
MV-22 Ospreys on the Iwakuni ramp (US Marine Corps Photo)
The United States Marines will not undertake flight operations by MV-22 Ospreys in Japan until the Japanese government green lights the flights after investigations into two recent crashes are completed, according to American Defense Secretary Leon Panetta.
The move was announced on the same day Panetta met with Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto in Washington, who later flew on an MV-22 and observed another Osprey flight and operations by Marine aviation units.
Okinawan residents and local politicians are contesting the plan to deploy Marine Ospreys to the Marine base at Futenma, citing noise and safety concerns.
See also: Marine Ospreys arrive in Japan
US Marine Corps Photo
This photo from the United States Marine Corps' III MEF's (Marine Expeditionary Force) Flickr Page shows a MV-22 Osprey aircraft being unloaded from the cargo ship Green Ridge at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni harbor on July 23, 2012.
Worth noting is the fact that this aircraft still carries the markings of VMM-561 "Pale Horses" which served as the cadre unit training crews on the Osprey who will now join HMM/VMM-265 in Okinawa, which will transition from the CH-46E Sea Knight to the MV-22 over the next few months. VMM-561 had re-formed in late 2010 at Marine Combat Air Station Miramar in California and had only formally dis-established in early July with the aircraft embarking on their trans-Pacific voyage in late June.
As reported previously, the deployment of the Osprey to Okinawa has been dogged by controversy, with local residents mounting a vociferous campaign against the deployment over noise and safety concerns.
More photos of the MV-22's arrival in Japan can be found at III MEF's Flickr Page.
Related: Ospreys arrive in Iwakuni / Local govts, residents still wary about safety, deployment
Despite the Pentagon insisting that the deployment of MV-22s will proceed as planned to Marine Combat Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni on the Japanese mainland and subsequently to Okinawa's MCAS Futenma later this year, word from the Japanese government is that it has suspended the process of deploying the MV-22s to Japan until the cause and other details of the recent Osprey crash have been established.
The USMC plans to eventually replace 24 ageing CH-46F Sea Knights serving with two squadrons based in Okinawa with the Ospreys, beginning with the aircraft belonging to the Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) which will then be known as Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 (VMM-265).
This news will be greeted warmly by Okinawan residents living near the U.S. Marine base at Futenma; Japan's Manichi newspaper has reported that the United States is considering deploying the MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft to Okinawa as early as in July, moving up the schedule from the initially planned deployment in autumn.
The Dragons of Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 265 (HMM-265) are expected to transition to the Osprey from the Boeing-Vertol CH-46 Sea Knight sometime in 2012.
