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Republic of Singapore Air Force

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF, Chinese: 新加坡空军部队; Malay Angkatan Udara Republik Singapura) is the air force branch of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC).

Mission Statement

The following excerpts was taken from the official homepage of the Republic of Singapore Air Force: -

The RSAF aims to be among the best. To be a First Class Air Force, our people must also be among the best Air Force professionals in the world. To this end, the RSAF will strive...

To achieve mission excellence in all aspects of operations both in peace and in war. We will fight as an integrated force with a broad spectrum of capabilities to achieve the SAF's mission.
To be a First Class learning organisation. We will develop our most important resource, our people, to their fullest potential through challenging and rewarding careers.
To be best-trained. We will adopt a global training outlook to achieve professional excellence and combat readiness, whilst ensuring zero accidents.
To achieve superior logistics. We will be agile and focused, ensuring mission effectiveness and operational success through speed and sustainment.
To exploit leading edge technology. We will leverage on enabling technologies as force multipliers to hone the RSAF's fighting edge.|20px|20px|

Formation History

In January 1968, the British announced the imminent withdrawal of all their troops east of Suez by the end of 1971. Prior to then, Singapore had depended completely on Britain's Royal Air Force (RAF) for its air defence, while the newly established Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had concentrated its efforts mainly on building up the army.

The predecessor to the RSAF, the SADC, was formed in September 1968. The SADC’s immediate task was to set up the Flying Training School to train pilots. Qualified flying instructors were obtained through Airwork Services Limited, a UK-based company specializing in defence services. Basic training for pilots was carried out using two Cessna light aircraft hired from the Singapore Flying Club. The SADC also enlisted the help of the Royal Air Force which introduced the first flying training syllabus and provided two ex-RAF pilots as instructors, as well as facilities and services at Seletar Airport. Finally, the first batch of six pilot trainees were sent to the United Kingdom in August 1968 to undergo training in various technical disciplines. The training was based on the Hawker Hunter, the SADC’s first air defence fighter. The following month, another pioneer group of technicians, this time from the rotary wing, were sent to France to begin their technical training on the Alouette III helicopter. In 1969, a number of local RAF technicians were released to join the fledging SADC. These local technicians had experience working on fixed-wing RAF aircraft such as the Hawker Hunter Javelin, Canberra, Lightning, Shackleton and Nimrod; as well as rotary-wing RAF aircraft such as the Bristol Belvedere, Westland Wessex and Westland Whirlwind.

Eight Cessna 172-K aircraft – the SADC’s first – arrived in May 1969 to be used for basic pilot training. By December, the first batch of students completed the course. Of these, six were sent to the UK to receive further training. On their return to Singapore in 1970, they were ready to operate the then newly-acquired Hawker Hunter fighter aircraft.

The pace of training pilots and ground crew picked up gradually. On August 1, 1969, Minister for the Interior and Defence, Lim Kim San, inaugurated the Flying Training School (FTS) at Tengah Air Base (then known as RAF Tengah). The inauguration of FTS brought SADC closer to its goal of fulfilling the heavy responsibility of defending Singapore's airspace.

The subsequent arrival of the BAC Strikemasters in 1969, used for advanced phase flying training, meant that pilot trainees were now able to earn their initial wings locally rather than overseas. The first batch of locally trained fighter pilots were trained at the FTS and graduated in November 1970. Amongst this batch was 2LT Goh Yong Siang, who later rose to the appointment of Chief of Air Force on July 1, 1995. Gradually, the SADC had its own pilots, flying instructors, air traffic controllers, and ground crew.

When Britain brought forward its plan to withdraw its forces by September 1971, the SADC was suddenly entrusted with a huge responsibility and resources. Britain’s former air bases – Tengah, Seletar, Sembawang and Changi – were handed over to the SADC, as well as its air defence radar station and Bloodhound II surface-to-air missiles.

In 1973, the SADC procured Shorts Skyvan search-and-locate aircraft and A-4 Skyhawk fighter-bombers. With a reliable mix of fighters, fighter-bombers, helicopters and transport aircraft, the SADC was ready to assume the functions of a full-fledged air force. In April 1975, the SADC was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

Organisation

The RSAF is led by the Chief of the Air Force (CAF). The current CAF is Major General Ng Chee Khern; one of the first F-16 pilots in Singapore. He took over office from Major General Lim Kim Choon, who retired in March 2006 after serving in the position for five years. The CAF reports directly to the Chief of Defence Force and is assisted by the Chief of Staff (Air Staff). The Air Staff comprises six functional departments: Air Manpower, Air Intelligence, Air Operations, Air Logistics, Air Plans and Air Training. There are also two specialist departments: the Air Force Inspectorate (AFI) and the Office of the Chief Air Force Medical Officer (CAMO).

The organisation chart below shows the administrative chain of command with seven formations: Tengah Air Base, Paya Lebar Air Base, Changi Air Base (West), Changi Air Base (East), Sembawang Air Base, Air Defence Systems Division (ADSD) and the Tactical Air Support Command (TASC).

In 05 January 2007, Minister for Defence, Teo Chee Hean announced that the Air Force organisation chart will be re-structured into five major commands, namely the Air Defence Operations Command (ADOC),the Air Combat Command (ACC), the Participation Command (PC), the Air Power Generation Command (APGC) and the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Command (UC). The first to be inaugurated was ADOC, along the restructuring announcement.

ADOC is the principal agency in charge of planning and executing peacetime operations and air defence. ADOC is also responsible for the development and operational readiness of the command and control and ground-based air defence units of the RSAF. ADOC has 4 groups are its command. There are Operations Planning and Development Group (OPDG), formerly under Air Operations Department, Air Force Operations Group (AFOG), National Air Defence Group (ADG), Divisional Air Defence Group (DAG).

UAV Command was the second command to be inaugurated and become operational in May 2007. The main structures under UC are Operations & System Development Group (OSDG), headed by the Deputy Commander of UC and Squadrons and UAV Training School (UTS).

The next command to be inaugurated was PC in January 2008 . Participation Command comprises the Operations Development Group (ODG), the Helicopter Group (HeliG), the Tactical Air Support Group (TASG), and the Divisional Air Defence Group (DAG).

The last two commands, ACC and APGC, were inaugurated together in August 2008 in conjunction with the RSAF 40th Anniversary. The ACC will bring together fighter and transport squadrons under one command, with central planning, control and execution of the air battle in operations. The APGC will enhance the missions of the ACC by ensuring that all air bases remain operational at all times, as well as improving the servicing and turn-around of aircraft to ensure continuous and responsive operations.

The ACC is responsible for the planning, control and execution of the air battle in operations. It brings together all fighter and transport squadrons that will carry out these tasks under a single command which will be responsible for training the pilots and aircrew to think and operate in a fully integrated way. The ACC consists of the Integrated System Development Group (ISDG), Operations Development Group (ODG), Integrated System Development Group (ISDG), Fighter Group (FG) and Transport Group (TG).

The APGC is set up to enable the RSAF to generate and sustain effective, timely and robust air power to meet the operational needs of the SAF. With the APGC, higher operational efficiency within each RSAF Air Base, and secondly, greater integration across the four bases are achieved. The APGC consists of the Operations Development Group (ODG) and four air bases: Changi Air Base, Paya Lebar Air Base, Sembawang Air Base and Tengah Air Base. The four support squadrons still remain organic to each Base but are under direct command of APGC. These four squadrons are , Airfield Maintainece Squadon (AMS), Ground Logistics Squadron (GLS), Field Defence Squadron (FDS) and Flying Support Squadron (FSS).

Overview

The backbone of the RSAF is formed by the Block 52/52+ F-16 Fighting Falcons. These are armed with US-supplied AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles and LANTIRN targeting pods, laser guided munitions and conformal fuel tanks for long-range strike.

While initially having bought as many as 70 F-16 planes, the early Block 15OCU models will be delivered to Thailand as rent for Udon Royal Thai Air Force Base in north-east of Thailand. This would mean that the RSAF will operate only the Block 52/52+ models and as many as 62 F-16CJ/DJ planes. The initial Block 15OCU aircraft are believed to be upgraded to "Falcon One" standard by ST Aerospace before the transfer.

Due to severe airspace constraints within Singapore, the RSAF operates its aircraft in several overseas locations in order to provide greater exposure to its pilots. With the F-16C/D Fighting Falcons, KC-135R Stratotankers, AH-64D Apaches and CH-47SD Chinook helicopters based in the USA, the Marchetti S-211s, PC-21s, and Super Puma helicopters in Australia, and the TA-4SU Super Skyhawks in France, almost one third of the force's inventory is based outside Singapore.

In 1994, the RSAF commenced a modernisation program for its fleet of approximately 40 operational (R)F-5E and F-5F aircraft. The upgrade was performed by Singapore Technologies Aerospace (STAero) and the upgraded aircraft were designated (R)F-5S and F-5T respectively, operating from Paya Lebar Air Base. These upgraded F-5S/T, equipped with the Galileo Avionica's FIAR Grifo-F X-band Radar are thought to be capable of firing the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile but to date, no actual live-firing has actually been reported. For in-flight refuelling, four KC-135Rs and four KC-130Bs are commissioned to support the fighter force of F-16C/Ds and (R)F-5S/Ts.

Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) capability was introduced in 1987 when four E-2C Hawkeyes were delivered to 111 Squadron. The duty of Maritime Patrol and Coastal surveillance is performed by the five Fokker 50 MPA (entered service in 1991), which can be armed with long-range anti-shipping Harpoon missiles and ASW torpedoes.

On November 18, 2004, it was announced that the RSAF will be donating its remaining 7 F-16A/B's (3 Alphas and 4 Bravos) to the Royal Thai Air Force. The eighth plane was lost in an accident. It is believed that they were handed over in late 2005. In return, the RSAF was permitted to train on the Thai air base of Udon Thani for a specified number of days each year.

As part of its fleet renewal process, the RSAF officially withdrew its fleet of A-4SU Super Skyhawk from front-line service on March 31, 2005 after 31 years of operations. The A-4SUs' achievements included flying directly from Singapore to the Philippines, incorporating the RSAF's first air-to-air refuelling mission in 1986, as well as the excellent aerobatic display of the 'red and white' Super Skyhawks flown by the RSAF Black Knights during Asian Aerospace 1990. A month before its retirement, the Skyhawk squadron won top honours in a strike exercise against its more modern F-16 and F-5 counterparts.

Singapore ordered a total of twenty AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters in two batches. After a long period of negotiations over the delivery of the sophisticated Longbow Fire-control radar, the first batch of eight aircraft, fitted with the Fire Control Radar, was delivered on May 17, 2002. The second batch of 12 Apaches were ordered in 2001 even before the first delivery took place. All of the initial eight Apaches are based in the USA. Three of the Apache Longbows returned in January 2006 at the request of the Minister of Defence.

Apart from the six CH-47SDs delivered from 1996, a new batch of six aircraft was ordered in 1997, with an option of four extra airframes. At least 12 CH-47SD have been delivered and are in service at Sembawang Air Base. It is believed that these had been upgraded to the SD standard prior to delivery.

Eight CH-47SDs were also deployed to support the relief efforts in the aftermath of the Indonesian Tsunami. It was the first and one of the few countries to reach the affected areas. The RSAF deployed dozens of C-130Hs, CH-47SDs and AS 332Ms there along with three of the RSN's latest Landing Ship Tanks (RSS Endurance, RSS Persistence and RSS Endeavour of the Endurance class LST) as well as Singapore Armed Forces vehicles, engineers, and medical teams.

In September 2005, the RSAF sent three CH-47SD Chinook helicopters, later augmented by a fourth CH-47SD Chinook, to provide assistance in the rescue and evacuation of stranded civilians after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and nearby areas in the United States . The humanitarian effort by Singapore involved more aircraft than any other foreign countries.

Since 2003, the RSAF has also made deployments of KC-135 tankers and C-130 aircraft to the Persian Gulf in support of the multinational efforts for the reconstruction of Iraq. RSAF personnel have carried out airlift, transportation and supply, and air-to-air refueling missions in support of the multinational forces, assisting the Coalition in carrying supplies and personnel, transporting humanitarian material and conducting medical evacuation operations.

Air Bases

Changi Air Base (West)

112 Sqn 4 KC-135R (Aerial refuelling)
121 Sqn 4 Fokker 50 (Transport), 5 Fokker 50 ME2 (Maritime patrol)

Changi Air Base (East)

145 Sqn 20 F-16D Blk 52+ (Strike)

Paya Lebar Air Base

122 Sqn 6 C-130H (Transport), 4 KC-130B (Transport/Aerial refuelling)
141 Sqn 6 F-5S (Interceptor), 1 F-5T (Training/Interceptor) - Disbanded since Nov 2005 with aircraft being reassigned to 144 and 149 Sqn.
144 Sqn 15 F-5S (Interceptor), 7 F-5T (Training/Interceptor)
149 Sqn 15 F-5S (Interceptor), 1 F-5T (Training/Interceptor)

Sembawang Air Base

120 Sqn 20 AH-64D Longbow Apache (Attack)
124 Sqn 4 EC120 Colibri (Training)
125 Sqn 22 AS332M Super Puma (Transport/SAR)
126 Sqn 12 AS532UL Cougar (Transport/SAR)
127 Sqn 12 CH-47SD (Heavylift/SAR)

Tengah Air Base

111 Sqn 4 E-2C Hawkeye (AEW & C)
140 Sqn 7 F-16C (Interceptor), 5 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)
142 Sqn 18 T/A-4SU Super Skyhawks (Fighter-bomber) - Disbanded in 1997.
143 Sqn 2 F-16C (Interceptor), 10 F-16D Blk 52 (Strike)
RSAF Black Knights - RSAF's aerobatic team.

Chong Pang Camp SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery)

3rd DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
6th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
9th DA RBS 70 SAM, IGLA SAM, Giraffe Radar
18th DA Mistral SAM
160 Sqn Oerlikon 35 mm AA Guns (Airfield defence)

Lim Chu Kang Camp II SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery)

163 Sqn I-Hawk SAM (Medium altitude air defence)
165 Sqn Rapier Blindfire SAM (Low altitude air defence)

Other assets of SADA (Singapore Air Defense Artillery)

201 Sqn FPS 117 Radar (Fighter control, SAM control, Surveillance, ASP)
203 Sqn LORADS Radar (RASP, SAR, "listening watch" for distress signals)

Murai Camp

116 Sqn Hermes 450 (Reconnaissance)
128 Sqn 40 IAI Searcher (Reconnaissance)

Personnel

Military ranks in the Singapore Armed Forces are identical across the three services except for the flag ranks of the RSN. They are based on the Army model. The official table of ranks stops at three stars for all three services . NATO rank codes are not officially used, but are listed here for easy comparison with other armed forces.

Like the Navy, the majority of Air Force personnel are regulars. This is due to the specialized and technical nature of many jobs. The employment of National Servicemen in various roles are limited mostly to the infantry-like Field Defence Squadrons which do not require such specialised training.

Overseas detachments (Training)

Cazaux Airbase (France)

150 Sqn, 18 A-4SU / TA-4SU (Advanced Jet Training)

Redmond Taylor AHP - Grand Prairie AASF (Grand Prairie, Texas)

149th AVN, 6 CH-47SD (Peace Prairie CH-47 Training)

Luke Air Force Base (USA)

425 FTS, 5 F-16C, 5 F-16D (Peace Carvin II F-16 Training)

Oakey Airbase (Australia)

126 Sqn, 12 AS532UL Cougar (Training/Support for army exercises)

Pearce Airbase (Australia)

130 Sqn,19 PC-21 (Pilot Selection/Basic Training)

Silverbell Army Heliport (USA)

E/1-285th AVN, 8 AH-64D (Peace Vanguard AH-64D Training)

Future plans

In February 2003, Singapore joined the JSF program's System Design and Development (SDD) Phase, as a Security Co-operation Participant (SCP). The first deliveries of the F-35 are not expected before 2015, but replacement for some of the A-4SU Super Skyhawks are needed by 2007. As a start, 20 F-16D Block 52+ have been delivered from 2003 under project Peace Carvin IV.

The RSAF embarked on the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) programme to replace the aging A-4SU Super Skyhawks. The original list of competitors was shortlisted to the final two - Dassault Rafale and the F-15SG Strike Eagle. The DSTA (Defense Science & Technology Agency) conducted detailed technical assessment, simulations and other tests to assess the final selection. On 6th September 2005, it was announced that the Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle had won the contract over the Rafale.

The F-15SG Strike Eagle (formerly the F-15T) is a variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle and is similar in configuration to the F-15K sold to South Korea, but differs in the addition of the APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar developed by Raytheon. The F-15SG will be powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 29,400 lbf (131 kN) thrust engines.

The initial order will be 12 aircraft with 8 options. Eventually, as many as 40 to 60 aircraft may be procured in several batches. Pending news on Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II's progress, more F-15SGs may be bought and the upper limit, as disclosed by the RSAF, is 80 F-15SG aircraft in total. These will likely be based at Tengah Air Base. As part of the weapons package for the first batch of aircraft, the U.S. will provide Singapore with:

200 AIM-120C AMRAAMs
200 AIM-9X Sidewinders
50 GBU-38 JDAMs
30 AGM-154A-1 and 30 AGM-154C JSOWs (Joint Stand-off Weapons)
100 KMU-556 GBU-31 JDAM Tail Kit Assemblies

A second follow-on weapons package was announced in August 2007, which includes:

28 GBU-10 Paveway II laser-guided 2,000 pound bombs
56 GBU-12 Paveway II laser-guided 500 pound bombs
126,000 20mm Cartridges for the F-15SG's M61 Vulcan cannon
14,000 BDU-33 Bomb Practice trainers
1,500 MK-84 Bomb Practice trainers
1,500 MK-82 Bomb Practice trainers

Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has on behalf of RSAF, on 22 October 2007, exercised the option to purchase eight more F-15SG fighters which were part of the original contract signed in 2005. Along with this buy, an additional order for four F-15SGs was made. This brings the total number of F-15SG purchased to 24.

The RSAF is expected to operate three types of aircraft in the foreseeable future; the F-35s as multirole fighters, the F-15SGs in the air superiority/strike role and the F-16C/Ds in the air defence/attack role. The RSAF also operates Air Defense assets in the form of SAMs and AAA. Some of these are permanently assigned to Divisional units.

In January 2005, it was announced that 6 Sikorsky S-70B (derivative of SH-60 Sea Hawk) naval helicopters will be purchased, complete with anti-surface and anti-submarine weapons and sensors. These will be operated by RSAF pilots, with System Specialists of the Republic of Singapore Navy operating the sensors and weaponry. They will operate from the Navy's new Formidable class frigates, and when operating from land will be based at Sembawang Air Base. All 20 AH-64D Longbow attack helicopters have been delivered, achieving pilot IOC. 12 of these Longbow Apaches were deployed back to Singapore and took part in combined arms exercises with the Army.

In April 2007, it was announced that the 4 E-2C Hawkeyes were to be replaced with 4 Gulfstream G550s which would become the primary early warning aircraft of the Singapore Air Force.

Weaponry

Current air to air missiles in the RSAF's inventory include:

Air to surface ordnance include:

GBU-10/GBU-12/GBU-16 and other laser-guided munitions,
AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missiles,
AGM-84 Harpoon missiles,
AGM-65B/D/G Maverick missiles,
Hydra 70 (APKWS ready) 70 mm rockets,
SNEB 68 mm rockets,
Zuni 127 mm rockets,
Mk 82/Mk83/Mk84 (500/1000/2000 pound) general purpose bombs,
other classified/undeclared munitions for special missions.

Assets

RSAF Assets
Type	Country of Origin	Role	Quantity	Program
Fixed Wing Combat Aircraft			123
Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagle		Air superiority/Strike	24 (o/o)	?
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Interceptor	8	Peace Carvin II
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Interceptor	4	Lease and Buy
Lockheed Martin F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Interceptor	10	Peace Carvin III
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Strike	10	Peace Carvin II
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Strike	8	Lease and Buy
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon		Strike	2	Peace Carvin III
Lockheed Martin F-16D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon		Strike	20	Peace Carvin IV
Northrop F-5S Tiger II		Interceptor	28	?
Northrop F-5T Tiger II		Interceptor/Trainer	9	?
Helicopters			78
Boeing CH-47SD Chinook		Heavy Transport	18	Peace Prairie
Eurocopter AS-332M Super Puma		Medium transport/Search And Rescue	22	?
Eurocopter AS-532UL Cougar		Medium Transport	12	?
Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow		Attack	20	Peace Vanguard
Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk		ASW/ASuW	6 (o/o)	?
Transport Aircraft			14
Lockheed C-130 Hercules		Heavy Transport	10	?
Fokker 50UTL		Medium Transport/VIP	4	?
Support Aircraft			17
Boeing KC-135R Stratotanker		Aerial Refuelling/Transport	4	?
Grumman E-2C Hawkeye		AEW & C	4	?
Fokker F50ME2		Maritime Patrol	5	?
Gulfstream G550 with the EL/M-2075 Phalcon AESA AEW radar.	/	AEW & C	4 (o/o)	?
Trainer Aircraft			42
Pilatus PC-21		Trainer	19	?
ST Aerospace TA-4SU/A-4SU Super Skyhawk		Advanced/Lead-in Jet Trainer	18	?
Eurocopter EC-120 Colibri	/ /	Trainer	5	?
UAV			~40
IAI Searcher Mk 2		Reconnaissance	40	?
Elbit Hermes 450 UAV		Reconnaissance	?	?
Stored Aircraft			69
ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk		Fighter-bomber	30	?
ST Aerospace TA-4SU Super Skyhawk		Trainer	10	?
Bell UH-1H		Light Transport	19	?
Eurocopter AS-550A2 Fennec		Trainer	3	?
Eurocopter AS-550C2 Fennec		Scout	7	?
Air Defense Artillery/Surface-to-Air Missiles/Radar
MIM-23B I-Hawk		SAM	?	?
Mistral		SAM - MANPADS	?	?
Rapier Mk II		SAM	?	?
9K38 Igla		SAM - MANPADS	?	?
M113A2 Ultra Mechanised Igla		Mobile SAM (SHORAD)	?	?
RBS 70		SAM - MANPADS	?	?
Cadillac Gage V-200 RBS 70		Mobile SAM (SHORAD)	?	?
Oerlikon 35 mm twin cannon		AA Gun	?	?
Ericsson GIRAFFE Radar		Mobile Radar	?	?

Photo Gallery

Current fleet

Best RSAF combat unit for the year

Historic fleet

Fixed-wing aircraft

Hawker Hunter — 12 x FGA.74s, 26 x FR.74A/Bs, and x 8 T.75/As (excluding one T.75A which was lost in accident before delivery) were delivered to RSAF in 1970 and 1973. Retired from service in 1990, only 6 were preserved as museum exhibits while the remaining 21 airworthy airframes were sold to an Australian Warbird Broker.
Short SC.7 Skyvan — 8 x Skyvan 3Ms delivered in 1973 and retired in 1993.
BAC Jet Provost — 3 x T.52s (ex-South Yemen Air Force airframe) operated from the 1975 until 1980.
BAC Strikemaster — 16 x Mk.84s delivered in 1969 and retired in 1984. One airframe preserved at the RSAF Museum while remaining 13 airworthy airframes were sold to a Warbird broker.
Cessna 172 — 8 x F172Ks delivered in 1969, retired in 1972.
Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star — ex-French Air Force (Armée de l'Air) airframes, operated from 1980 until retired in 1984.
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260 — 14 x SF.260Ms delivered in 1971 plus 12 x SF.260Ws delivered in 1979 and 1981. All remaining 19 airworthy airframes retired in 2002 and was transferred to the Indonesian Air Force.

Rotary-wing aircraft

Aérospatiale Alouette III — 12 x SA316Bs delivered in 1969, all retired in 1978 and was sold to Sri Lanka Air Force.
Eurocopter Ecureuil — 6 x AS350Bs for basic helicopter training, delivered in 1982 and retired in 1993.
UH-1B — 6 x refurbished ex-US Army airframes for advance helicopter training, operated from 1980 until 1988.
UH-1N Twin Huey — 3 x UH-1Ns (military version of the Bell 212 Twin Huey) delivered in 1977, all retired in 1985 and was sold to Sri Lanka Air Force.

Air-defence

Bristol Bloodhound Mk.II SAM — ex-RAF stock, all retired in 1994.

Historic photo gallery

Others

RSAF Black Knights

First formed in 1973 at Tengah Air Base, the Black Knights is RSAF's official aerobatic team and has been performing on an ad-hoc basis since its inception with volunteer pilots drawn from various front line squadrons within the RSAF.

RSAF Museum

The RSAF maintains the Air Force Museum, which is open to the public and showcases the air force's history and capabilities. The museum is located along Airport Road beside Paya Lebar Air Base, near Eunos MRT Station. (See the section above for the displayed exhibits!)

RSAF Open House

The RSAF Open House is a bi-annual event which is usually held at Paya Lebar Air Base and in conjunction with the 40th Anniversary of Republic of Singapore Air Force in 2008, it would be open to public for two days from 30 August to 31 August 2008. Also, the RSAF Black Knights are scheduled for another aerobatic display to thrill the crowds during the event.

In popular culture

Fictional Television programs

Airforce (空军), 10 April 1988 This Chinese language drama series was filmed and produced by Singapore Broadcasting Corporation (now defunct, a forerunner of MediaCorp TV, Singapore).

References

Notes

Bibliography

Huxley, Tim (2000). Defending the Lion City: the Armed Forces of Singapore. Allen & Unwin Pty LTD.
Andrade, John (1982). Militair 1982. London: Aviation Press Limited.
Peacock, Lindsay Osprey Combat aircraft Series No.11: A-4 Skyhawk. London: Osprey Publishing.