Republic of Singapore Air Force unveils Exercise Hot Shot unit flagships

The Republic of Singapore Air Force has unveiled specially marked flagships for each of its five fighter fighter squadrons taking part in the RSAF's exercise Hot Shot 2014. Ex Hot Shot is a competition held by the RSAF's Air Combat Command for its fighter Squadrons to go head to head with one another to bag the title of Best Overall Squadron.

Over the week, the RSAF's will aircrew put their capabilities to the test through a series of challenging air-to-air and air-to-ground tasks. Flight line crew also competed in precision marshalling, aircraft generation and weapons loading.

This year's Hot Shot is held, as usual, at Tengah Airbase in Singapore's west. Detachments of the RSAF's F-16D+, F-15SG and F-5S/T taking part in the exercise will join the two resident F-16C/D units at Tengah to take part in the exercise. If previous years exercises are a guide, the rest of the aircraft at Hot Shot will also carry special markings for the exercise, albeit more subdued compared to that carried by the respective squadron flagships.

The markings look really good, and here's hoping the RSAF squadrons heading Down Under for Exercise Pitch Black and/or Wallaby this year will bring along their Hot Shot flagship. Please?

From left to right, top to bottom: F-16C, 140 Sqn. F-16D, 143 Sqn. F-5S, 144 Sqn. F-16D+, 145 Sqn. F-15SG, 149 Sqn (All photos © Singapore Ministry of Defence/Republic of Singapore Air Force)

Click on thumbnails for higher-res imagery

Singapore confirms A330 MRTT order; additional two S-70 Seahawks

Airbus A330 with a Portugese Air Force F-16. © Airbus

Singapore's Ministry of Defence, via it's Cyberpioneer Facebook/Twitter account, has confirmed that Singapore will acquire the Airbus A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport and the two more S-70 Seahawks. No timeframe for delivery has been revealed, nor has the number of MRTTs being acquired been stated, but it has been reported earlier that it will be six MRTTs, while Flightglobal has reported on the additional Seahawks (reportedly fitted for Littoral missions) as far back as February last year.

This air-to-air photo of a Singaporean Chinook almost didn't happen!

Click for hi-res image

I was invited to the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Family Day, as part of its 45th Anniversary celebrations held in conjunction with the RSAF's involvement at Singapore Airshow 2014. As part of the event, we were given a ride on a CH-47SD Chinook helicopter on Saturday the 8th of February. Arriving at Changi East Airbase that morning, it was obvious from the number of people going for the ride that there were to be two helicopters provided for the flight, which meant that I would get a rare chance at an air to air photo of the other Chinook.

I had assumed that the only way I would be able to get the shot would be to sit on board the lead ship near the rear, and shoot the No.2 aircraft out of the (open) rear ramp. Now at this moment we had no idea which was the lead Chinook and which was No.2 so I had to take a punt and chose one of the Chinooks to board. As it turned out I had gotten on board No.2 ship, and to top it off I ended up sitting somewhere near the centre of the helicopter. As we departed the base I rued what I thought had been a missed opportunity as both helicopters headed to the waters south of Singapore's Central Business District for a flight at 500ft AGL in loose echelon formation.

It was during this portion of the flight that I spied the lead Chinook, visible off the open port front window of our Chinook. Flying on a roughly northerly heading at that point, it also meant the morning light was falling perfectly on the lead helo. What luck! I hurriedly snapped off a series of photos, thankful that I had mounted a 70-300mm lens on my camera so I would have enough reach to zoom close enough and confident I would get a few useable shots. As you can see, the lead Chinook had its rear ramp closed, so even if I had boarded the lead Chinook, the closed ramp would have meant no photos of the second aircraft would have been possible!

As it was, I did get a number of photos of the lead Chinook which I'm really happy with. And as a bonus, the rear ramp of our Chinook was open as well, which meant that shots like this were also possible:

Click for hi-res image

Special thanks to the kind folks at Singapore's Ministry of Defence Public Affairs Directorate and the Air Force Information Centre, who made the event possible

VIDEOS: Singapore Airshow aerial displays: Black Knights, Black Eagles, Jupiter, V-22 and more

Youtube user Tonkatsu298 brings us some videos of the aerial display at the recent Singapore Airshow. Aerobatics displays from 3 military display teams (Singapore's Black Knights, Indonesia's Jupiter and South Korea's Black Eagles). Plus solo displays from the a Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet from the Royal Australian Air Force, F-16C and C-17 from the USAF, and a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor making its debut at Singapore Airshow.

Here are some of the highlights:

Republic of Singapore AF Black Knights (F-16C Fighting Falcon)
External Link

Republic of Korea Air Force Black Eagles (KAI T-50B Golden Eagle)
External Link

Indonesian Air Force Jupiter (KAI KT-1)
External Link

United States Marine Corps Boeing MV-22B Osprey
External Link

Royal Australian Air Force Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet
External Link

More videos of the aerial displays at Singapore Airshow 2014 on Tonkatsu298's Youtube page

More on F-16 CAPES, Gen. Hostage speaks & Japan's F-35 costs balloon

Photo © Tom Harvey/Lockheed Martin

Defensenews is on a roll the past few days, with several interesting stories being posted. First up, a follow-up to their story on the United States deciding to defund the USAF/RoCAF F-16 CAPES upgrade program, this time focusing on how Taiwan's and Singapore's upgrades are affected. They also interviewed the chief of the USAF's Air Combat Command (ACC), Gen. Michael Hostage who talks about A-10s, F-35s, F-22s and budgets.

Last but not least, they look at how spiraling costs (a recurring theme) has clouded Japan's planned purchase of the F-35.

Report: Singapore has signed for 6 Airbus A330 MRTT tanker-transports

One of five KC-30A (Airbus A330 MRTT) tankers operated by the RAAF (© Commonwealth of Australia)

French aviation magazine Air and Cosmos has reported that Singapore has reportedly signed for six Airbus A330 MRTT (Multi-Role Tanker Transports) in 2013. Neither Airbus Defence and Space nor Singapore have commented on the reports. If true, Singapore will become the fifth nation to operate the A330 MRTT, after the UK, Australia, UAE and Saudi Arabia. France has also been reported to be on the verge of buying the type, along with India.

There are rumours that the MoU signed between Airbus and Singapore to be conditional upon Airbus sorting out the issues with the refueling boom and mission planning system, among others. Problems with the boom have dogged the MRTT's development, and is not expected to be solved until late this year at the earliest. This has prevented the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) from declaring Full Operational Capability with the type, which operates five aircraft, known as the KC-30A in RAAF service.

It has been reported since 2011 that Singapore has been looking for tankers to replace its elderly fleet of four Boeing KC-135R Stratotankers and ten C-130B/H Hercules (all ten can be readily configured as KC-130 tankers). Singapore is known to have issued a Request For Information (RFI) for six aerial refueling tankers back in 2012, and Boeing had previously acknowledged that its KC-46A tanker was one of the types Singapore had issued the RFI to. However with the KC-46 still in development and the USAF's mammoth 180-aircraft order, it may have difficult for Boeing to meet Singapore's delivery timeline for a new tanker.

Our previous coverage of Singapore's search for a new tanker aircraft can be accessed from the links below.

2 August 2011: Singapore looking to replace KC-135s
21 February 2012: Singapore Air Force issues tanker RFI
20 Sept 2012: Singapore has requested information on Boeing's KC-46

DSCA notification for Singapore's Block 52 upgrade

RSAF F-16D Block 52

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress January 13 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Singapore for an upgrade of F-16 Block 52 aircraft and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $2.43 billion. More at the DSCA's website.

The notification is for 60 aircraft, i.e. Singapore's entire F-16 fleet. I should have an in-depth look at this latest development up in the next few days

PHOTO: Republic of Singapore AF Black Knights F-16C six-ship air-to-air

© Republic of Singapore Air Force/Photo by Katsushiko Tokunaga (DACT). Click on thumbnail for hi-res.

A fantastic air-to-air photo of the F-16Cs of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's Black Knights Aerobatic Team over the waters off southern Singapore, photographed by the one and only Katsu from an RSAF F-16D photo ship.

The Black Knights have recently been re-formed, and will perform at the upcoming Singapore Airshow, to be held at the Changi Exhibition Centre from 11-16 February 2014. They will be joined by the Republic of Korea Air Force's Black Eagles team flying the T-50 and the TNI-AU (Indonesian Air Force) KT-1 trainers belonging to the Jupiter Aerobatic Team.

Photos of 2nd Singapore Air Force F-16D with anniversary tail art

Remember this story from mid-November about the Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16D based in Luke Air Force Base, Arizona being painted with colourful tail art commemorating 20 years of RSAF training at Luke? Well it turns out there is a second F-16D (S/N 96-5035) that got a special paintjob marking the occasion, and it's just as striking too!

Luke AFB has also released this image showing the tails of both commemorative aircraft side-by-side. Both aircraft were painted with unique tail flash designs by the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron.

USAF Photo via Luke AFB's Facebook page. Click on the thumbnail to view the high-res version.

The 425th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Black Widows, was reactivated at Luke AFB in late 1992 and started training Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots on the F-16 soon after, initially using leased USAF F-16A/Bs before switching over to leased F-16C/Ds and finally transitioning over to the RSAF's own Block 52 F-16C/Ds when deliveries of the latter began in 1998.

The squadron is a mixed USAF-RSAF training squadron, and is one of several RSAF training detachments in the United States. The RSAF maintains several training detachments based overseas due to a lack of training areas at home, as well as monsoonal weather patterns over Singapore which frequently restricts training. Singapore operates 60 F-16C/Ds spread among 3 Singapore-based squadrons and the 425th FS at Luke AFB.

And this is an image of both aircraft sitting tail-to-tail, on the 425th Fighter Squadron's Facebook page.

via the 425 Fighter Squadron's Facebook page. Click on the thumbnail to view the high-res version.

F-35B to visit Luke Air Force Base at Singapore's request

F-35B Lightning II STOVL Joint Strike Fighter (Lockheed-Martin Photo)

This just in from Luke AFB's Facebook page:

F-35B aircraft from Marine Corps Air Station Yuma are expected to be flying at Luke AFB from approximately 10:30 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Dec. 10. The aircraft will be at Luke at the request of senior defense officials from Singapore, who are visiting the base as part of Forging Sabre, a Singapore armed forces exercise taking place at Luke and at the Barry M. Goldwater training range. Singapore is considering purchasing F-35s in the future.

The F-35B is the “short takeoff and vertical landing” variant of the aircraft developed for the U.S. Marine Corps. It is configured differently than the F-35A “conventional takeoff and landing” variant used by the U.S. Air Force. The first of Luke’s F-35A aircraft are expected to arrive in early 2014.

Luke will not be hosting media for the event, but media and the general public are welcome to observe the aircraft flying in the pattern from public areas outside the base.

For questions, contact the 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs Office at 623-856-6011 or after duty hours at 623-856-5600.

===END===

I have written extensively on Singapore's interest in the F-35, specifically the F-35B (see here, here and here). This latest event seems to indicate that Singapore's interest is firming up, or maybe Singapore might even confirm the reported decision to buy the F-35B at this upcoming event at Luke. Although the lack of a media event probably makes the latter unlikely.

Thanks to Sze Yong for spotting this.

UPDATE: Here are press reports from The Gazette and Military Times on the visit.

Maritime role for Singapore's F-15SGs hinted at by USAF general

An interesting nugget about the Republic of Singapore Air Force and it's F-15SGs from the Chief of the USAF's Pacific Air Forces Gen. Herbert J. "Hawk" Carlisle, in an interview with the good folks at Breaking Defense.

“Singapore is doing very innovative things with their F-15s, notably in evolving the capabilities of the aircraft to contribute to maritime defense and security. We are looking very carefully at their innovations and can leverage their approach and thinking as well,” he said. “This will certainly grow as we introduce the fleet of F-35s in the Pacific where cross national collaboration is built in.”

He didn't give away too much for obvious reasons, but it is nevertheless interesting to read. One does wonder what sort of F-15SG capabilities in a maritime environment he is talking about, but I figure the statement about the F-35 above, and this more recent quote,

"Imagine, for example, a submarine and an F-22 working together"

from this interview should probably give us a clue. While not some exciting, big bang secret weapon many of us were probably hoping for, this is essentially the future of warfare: where disparate, totally different platforms can communicate and work together seamlessly to maximise their effectiveness during a time of conflict.

One can only imagine F-15SGs, using their sophisticated AESA radars and distributing information over secure networks via datalinks while operating from high altitude, providing updated, over the horizon targeting information for the Republic of Singapore Navy's Formidable-class frigates. Or in the future, even working with the recently-acquired Type 218SG submarines in a similar fashion. And that may not even be restricted to Singaporean platforms. It is not entirely inconceivable that the F-15SG's can do the same for allied ships, for example with Australia's upcoming Hobart-class Air Warfare destroyers in a future coalition ops scenario.

Or, it may really be an exciting, big bang secret weapon. Like the AGM-154 Joint Stand-Off Weapons that were included in an U.S. Foreign Military Sales notification to Singapore a few years back having been upgraded to C-1 standards to add the capability to hit moving targets. But there's nothing too "innovative" there, is there?

While we're on the F-15SG, latest counts indicate there could be 20 airframes already in Singapore. Following the RSAF's usual playbook, we can expect a second locally-based F-15SG squadron to be stood up very soon with a handful of aircraft marked in the new squadron's colours before more aircraft are added to bring aircraft numbers up to strength. With 24 F-15SGs (officially) on the RSAF's books, this would mean (an almost impossibly low) four aircraft currently left with the RSAF's training detachment at Mountain Home Air Force base in Idaho. More credence to rumours that the RSAF has more F-15SGs operational than offically disclosed? You tell me...

Singaporean F-16D gains colourful tailflash to mark 20 years at Luke AFB

U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Grace Lee. Click on thumbnail for high-resolution image

Airmen from the United States' Air Force 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron painted this colourful artwork on the tail of a 425th Fighter Squadron F-16D fighter jet (S/N 96-5034) to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Republic of Singapore Air Force partnering with Arizona's Luke Air Force Base and the 56th Fighter Wing in training fighter pilots. The 425th Fighter Squadron, also known as the Black Widows, was reactivated at Luke AFB in late 1992 and started training Republic of Singapore Air Force pilots on the F-16 soon after, initially using leased USAF F-16A/Bs before switching over to leased F-16C/Ds and finally transitioning over to the RSAF's own Block 52 F-16C/Ds when deliveries of the latter began in 1998.

The squadron is a mixed USAF-RSAF training squadron, and is one of several RSAF training detachments in the United States. The RSAF maintains several training detachments based overseas due to a lack of training areas at home, as well as monsoonal weather patterns over Singapore which frequently restricts training. Singapore operates 60 F-16C/Ds spread among 3 Singapore-based squadrons and the 425th FS at Luke AFB.

Singapore AF Weapon System Officer injured in U.S Navy T-45 crash

T-45 Goshawk. U.S Navy Photo by LTJG John A. Ivancic

A Republic of Singapore Air Force Weapon Systems Officer was injured in yesterday's crash of a U.S. Navy T-45 Goshawk at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida. Lieutenant (LTA) Lu, Zhen Yang Ephraim was undergoing a routine training flight and was in the backseat of a US Navy T-45C Goshawk training jet piloted by a U.S. Navy instructor pilot when it crash landed. Both LTA Lu and the USN IP were injured in the crash and are recovering in hospital.

According to the statement from Singapore's Ministry of Defence, LTA Lu was on a Weapon Systems Officer (Fighter) Course conducted by the US Navy. The RSAF has a number of training arrangements in the United States operating both their own aircraft, as well as airframe hours leased from U.S. Air Force and Navy assets.

Singapore reportedly selects the F-35B; in no hurry to place order

F-35B Lightning II STOVL Joint Strike Fighter (Lockheed-Martin Photo)

I have written for The Diplomat on reports that Singapore has already selected the F-35B STOVL version of the Joint Strike Fighter. The piece also discusses the possible reasons behind the selection, and contains a nugget about developments in Singapore's fleet of Boeing F-15SG Eagles.

PHOTO: Air-to-Air of Singaporean PC-21 with Aussie PC-9, Hawk 127

© Commonwealth of Australia. Click on thumbnail for high resolution version.

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) recently conducted a joint flight over the city of Perth in celebration of 20 years of Singapore Flying Training at RAAF Base Pearce in Western Australia. A RSAF Pilatus PC-21 trainer flew in conjunction with a RAAF BAe Hawk 127 Lead In Fighter Trainer of 79 Sqn RAAF and a Pilatus PC-9 of No.2 Flying Training School.

More images by the RAAF's photographers in this Photo Gallery

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: 19 Sept 2013

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.

Singapore confirms plans to upgrade F-16s

RSAF F-16D Block 52

As per the news roundup from a couple of days ago mentioned, Singapore's Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen has said in a speech to Parliament that - among other things - Singapore will be upgrading its 60-strong fleet of Lockheed-Martin F-16C/D fighters to "modernise their avionics and extend their lifespan".

Industry observers have long expected Singapore to be a prime candidate to upgrade its F-16s, and it was believed that the island nation will make its decision after fellow Asian F-16 operators South Korea and Taiwan decide on their respective fleet upgrades.

South Korea announced last year that it had awarded BAE Systems the contract to upgrade the Republic of Korea Air Force's 134 F-16s, while rival (and F-16 OEM) Lockheed Martin has been selected to upgrade the almost 300 USAF and 145 Republic of China Air Force's (RoCAF) F-16s. The centrepiece of both companies' upgrade will be a new Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and a new mission computer, with the Raytheon Advanced Combat Radar (RACR) and Northrop-Grumman's Scalable Agile Beam radar (SABR) being the candidates to equip the upgraded F-16s with AESAs.

RSAF F-16C Block 52

Both BAE Systems and Lockheed-Martin will be certainties to compete for the Singapore upgrade contract, while Boeing has also indicated an interest in entering the F-16 upgrade market. Singapore Technologies, which has forged close links with Singapore's armed forces as a contractor for upgrades and maintenance projects, may also play some part in this program.

South Korea has already selected the RACR for its upgraded F-16C/Ds, with deliveries expected to commence 2016 after completion of the radar's development. Meanwhile, Lockheed-Martin, which has been tasked with selecting the radar for the USAF's F-16 Combat Avionics Programmed Extension Suite (CAPES) and Taiwanese upgrades, has opted for the SABR. SABR is based on technology from the F-22 Raptor's APG-77(V)1 and F-35 JSF’s APG-81 AESAs, while RACR can trace its lineage to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet’s APG-79 and the F-15E’S APG-82 AESAs.

No other details have been released, and it is not known if the entire Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 fleet is slated to receive the upgrade. However Singapore will almost certainly require an AESA radar for its F-16s, along with the upgraded mission computer as previously mentioned. It is possible that newer weapons such as the AIM-9X Sidewinder, AGM-154 Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW) and GBU-54 Laser Joint Direct Attack Munition (LJDAM) that Singapore has acquired for its F-15SG Eagles may be integrated as part of the upgrade.

The FMS request for Taiwan's F-16 upgrade may provide more clues as to what the Singaporean F-16 upgrade will include.

RSAF F-16D Block 52+

The RSAF's F-16 fleet comprises of 42 F-16C/D Block 52 and a further 20 F-16D Block 52+ (Advanced Block 52) aircraft. The former are split among 2 Singapore-based squadrons operating 28 aircraft while a training squadron based at Luke AFB, Arizona operates the remaining 12 Block 52s. A third Singapore-based squadron is equipped with the 20 newer F-16D Block 52+. Singapore's F-16s are relatively young, with the aircraft being delivered between 1998 and 2004.

Singapore has acquired a global reputation as a discerning buyer of military equipment, and will be regarded as a prime customer for the winner of the upgrade contract despite its modest fleet size compared to South Korea and Taiwan. With 4,500 F-16s having been delivered since the 1970s and operated by 26 countries, the potential upgrade market for the type is huge.

Asia-Pacific Military Aviation News roundup: 16 Sept 2013

It has been a busy past couple of days for military aviation news in the Asia-Pacific:

The Philippines Air Force has conducted two airstrikes in the past few days again Moro National Liberation Front rebels which have attacked a town in the southern Philippines. The strikes were carried out by McDonnell Douglas MG-520 Defender helicopters.

A photo of the Chinese WZ-10 attack helicopter carrying the TY-90 AAM is making the rounds of the Internet.

In a speech to Parliament, Singapore's Defence Minister has announced that the island nation is acquiring the Aster 30 ground based Surface to Air Missile and upgrading its F-16s.

An interesting video (in Mandarin) of the Guizhou JL-9 trainer in Chinese Navy service.

The South Korean president has reportedly been briefed that the Boeing F-15SE Silent Eagle is the sole eligible bid for the RoKAF's F-X III program

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.