Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 22 Aug 2013

AV-8B Harrier II of VMA-214 Blacksheep

More details have emerged regarding the unintended dropping of practice and unarmed bombs by U.S. Marine Harriers on the Great Barrier Reef during Talisman Saber in July.

It has been happening for a while, but news has just got out that the F/A-18D Hornets of VMFA(AW)-242 Bats are currently in Tindal, Australia for Exercise Southern Frontier.

The Korean Aircraft Industries (KAI) FA-50 is to begin service with the Republic of Korea Air Force this week. 60 of the light attack aircraft will be replacing the RoKAF's F-5E/F Tiger II interceptor fleet.

If you still doubted that the ongoing Red Flag - Alaska (which I wrote about here) was practice for a North Korea scenario, this story about DHC-2 Beavers simulating An-2 Colts at the exercise should erase them.

Japanese and South Korean Eagles taking part in Red Flag Alaska 13-3

For the first time, the Republic of Korea Air Force and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force are taking part in an exercise together. Contingents of F-15 Eagles from both countries are currently participating in Red Flag - Alaska 13-3. Here's a piece about the exercise I've written for War Is Boring.

Last of 24 F-15SGs have been delivered to Republic of Singapore AF

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton. Click on thumbnail for higher resolution.

A photo published on the website of Mountain Home Air Force Base shows a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle landing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska for Exercise Red Flag 13-1 on the 3rd of October. The aircraft belongs to the Buccaneers of the 428th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing. The squadron is a joint RSAF-USAF training unit, otherwise known as the Peace Carvin V Detachment, which trains RSAF pilots on the F-15SG at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho.

What's interesting about this aircraft is that its serial number, 05-0024, confirms that the last of the 24 RSAF F-15SGs currently on order for the RSAF has been delivered. Notoriously secretive, the RSAF does not usually announce news of aircraft deliveries (save for initial rollouts or the first delivery of new types) and the only way for spotters and enthusiasts to keep track of such deliveries is by noting the serial/FMS numbers on its aircraft on the occasions they appear in public.

During the Singapore Airshow 2012 held in early February, the 23rd aircraft (05-0023) was on the static display in the markings of Paya Lebar-based 149 Squadron carrying the RSAF serial 8328. At the same show, I attended a media conference where Roger Besancenez, Vice-President of Boeing's F-15 program, revealed that the last aircraft will be delivered later in 2012. So it seems that the delivery has happened, and the aircraft is now one of eight from the Buccaneers taking part in Red Flag Alaska.

Singapore ordered twelve F-15SGs with a further eight options in December 2005 after an exhaustive selection process. These options were converted into firm orders and a further four aircraft were added to the order in October 2007. The first F-15SG was rolled out in November 2008, with the 428th FS standing up in May 2009 to receive its first aircraft. The first F-15SGs arrived in Singapore in March 2010, operated by the Shikras of 149 Sqn based at Paya Lebar, transitioning from the Northrop F-5S/T Tiger interceptor.

Singapore's F-15s, F-16s to take part in Red Flag - Alaska 13-1

RSAF F-15SG from the 428th Fighter Squadron (© Commonwealth of Australia)

RSAF F-16D Block 52 from the 425th Fighter Squadron.(© Neil Pearson)

F-15s and F-16s from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) two overseas-based fighter training detachments will be heading to Alaska for Exercise Red Flag 13-1, to be held from the 4th to the 19th of October.

Eight RSAF Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagles from the Mountain Home, Idaho-based 366th Fighter Wing's 428th Fighter Squadron (Buccaneers), a joint USAF-RSAF training squadron will be joined by ten RSAF F-16C/D Block 52s from the 56th Fighter Wing's 425th Fighter Squadron (Black Widows), which is also a joint USAF-RSAF training unit, from Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It is believed (unconfirmed at the moment) they will be joined by a Singapore-based RSAF KC-135R from 112 Sqn.

Other air combat participants at Red Flag 13-1 include the USAF's F-22 Raptors and F-16C/Ds. EA-6B Prowlers are slated to provide Electronic Warfare support while there will also be Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) missions undertaken by HH-60 Pave Hawks from the USAF. The Royal Thai Air Force will also take part with a single C-130 Hercules transport. "Red" aggressor missions will, as usual, be flown by the USAF's 18th Aggressor Squadron with it's colourful F-16s.

Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored joint/coalition, tactical air combat employment exercise designed to replicate the stresses that warfighters must face in combat. The exercise takes place in the Joint Pacific Range Complex over Alaska as well as a portion of Western Canadian airspace. The entire airspace is made up of extensive Military Operations Areas, Special Use Airspace, and ranges, for a total airspace of more than 67,000 square miles. All Red Flag-Alaska flying takes place from the two main USAF bases on Alaska, namely Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Photo Gallery: Exercise Red Flag - Alaska 12-2

Japanese Air Self Defense Force F-15J Eagles taxis toward the runway at Eielson AFB, Alaska, before departing for a combat training mission June 11, 2012, during Red Flag-Alaska 12-2. Department of Defense photo by U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth/Released)

The United States' Defense Media Activity - Hawaii News Bureau has published a 50-photo gallery of action from the ongoing Exercise Red Flag Alaska 12-2. The exercise is being held from June 7-22 2012 and in addition to USAF units from various commands, also includes F-15J Eagles from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning aircraft, Polish Air Force F-16s and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters from the German Luftwaffe.

Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, joint/coalition, tactical air combat employment exercise which corresponds to the operational capability of participating units. The entire exercise takes place in the Joint Pacific Range Complex over Alaska as well as a portion of Western Canadian for a total airspace of more than 67,000 square miles.

As an aside, Combat Aircraft magazine has reported on it's Facebook page that Luftwaffe wing commander Oberst Andreas Pfeiffer has been quoted as saying 'when you get to the merge, the Typhoon doesn't have to fear the F-22'. We're sure that is true given the Typhoon's dogfight capabilities, but of course the trick is getting to the merge against the F-22 in the first place!

PHOTO: RAAF F/A-18A Hornet & JASDF F-15J Eagle over the tundra

Photo © Commonwealth of Australia. Click on the thumbnail to view hi-resolution image.

A No 3 Squadron F/A-18 Hornet and an F-15 Eagle from the Japan Air Self Defence Force fly low over the Alaskan tundra during Exercise Red Flag Alaska 11-2. During the exercise, RAAF Hornets from 3 Sqn and JASDF F-15 Eagles from No 4 Air Wing (Ed: Insignia on this F-15J is for the JASDF's 303 Kokutai/6 Kokudan based at Kanazawa-Komatsu) have completed bilateral flying operations for the first time. In addition, the RAAF aircraft made a stopover at the JASDF's Misawa Airbase on their way back from Red Flag Alaska. The four-day exchange programme included several activities to enhance shared cooperation between the Australian and Japanese fighter squadrons.

Formerly known as Cope Thunder, Red Flag Alaska is a United States Pacific Air Forces Command led large force employment exercise designed to replicate a high-end combat environment. Aircrew will be exposed to large force employment where they perform counter air, precision strike and offensive air support in packages of up to 100 aircraft. The exercise also provides invaluable training for logistics, support and maintenance personnel as they are able to practice deploying to another country and working together with other Air Forces.

Red Flag Alaska is a large-forces exercise conducted in interior Alaska to simulate air combat. Aircrews will be operating in the 67,000 square-mile Joint Alaska Pacific Range Complex, which offers adequate space and ranges for crews to simulate full-scale aerial battles.

Exercise Red Flag Alaska 11–2 was conducted at the USAF's Eielson Air Force Base between 4 and 22 July.

PHOTOS: Singapore's US-based F-15s participate in Red Flag Alaska

The Royal Australian Air Force has just released a series of photos of Exercise Red Flag Alaska 11-2 which is being held at the USAF's Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska from July 7-22, and will involve participants from Australia, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and the United States. Among the participants captured on camera by the RAAF's photographers are the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagles of the 428th Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Wing, a joint RSAF-USAF training squadron based at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Click on the following thumbnails to view the high-resolution images.




Photos © Commonwealth of Australia

Formerly known as Cope Thunder, Red Flag Alaska is a United States Pacific Air Forces Command led large force employment exercise designed to replicate a high-end combat environment. Aircrew will be exposed to large force employment where they perform counter air, precision strike and offensive air support in packages of up to 100 aircraft. The exercise also provides invaluable training for logistics, support and maintenance personnel as they are able to practice deploying to another country and working together with other Air Forces.

Red Flag Alaska is a large-forces exercise conducted in interior Alaska to simulate air combat. Aircrews will be operating in the 67,000 square-mile Joint Alaska Pacific Range Complex, which offers adequate space and ranges for crews to simulate full-scale aerial battles.