Against the backdrop of a clear blue sky, the jet zips around at supersonic speed while carrying an impressive load of up to eight air-to-air missiles. Armed with a cutting-edge radar system and an advanced integrated sensor suite, which allows the swift detection and accurate striking of targets, the jet has achieved a formidable combat record of 104 victories to zero losses.
Such are the enviable statistics behind the latest addition to the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) – the F-15SG fighters. The first batch of five fighter aircraft, together with 36 air and ground crew, recently returned from the Mountain Home Air Force Base (MHAFB) in the United States (US), where they had been training to operate and maintain the jets since last May.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean officiated at the inauguration ceremony of 149 Squadron, which will operate the F-15SGs, at Paya Lebar Air Base on 5 Apr.
Mr Teo said that the inauguration signified a major milestone in the RSAF’s 3rd Generation transformation journey.
“The F-15SG is a major enhancement to Singapore’s air defence capability, and will also play a significant role in the SAF’s (Singapore Armed Forces’) overall operations. The F-15SG squadron will increase the SAF’s ability to deal decisively with future threats and meet our critical operational needs,” he added.
Commending the crew on the high level of operational proficiency acquired during their training in US, Mr Teo added: “The systematic manner in which we are operationalising the F-15SGs within this short time frame of just 11 months attests to the RSAF’s ability to assimilate new capabilities and integrate them into our orbat.”
Commanding Officer of 149 Squadron, Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) Kelvin Khong, who flew one of the F-15SG aircraft back to Singapore from the US, told cyberpioneer that hard work was a major component that helped the crew get up to speed during their training.
“It wasn’t easy because the F-15SG has a lot of capabilities, which also means it has a lot of systems. For many of us, who were previously operating the F-5 and F-16 aircraft, there were a lot of things that we had to learn, such as the more advanced systems on board. It took a lot of studying and hands-on practice on our part,” he said.
During the ceremony, Mr Teo also lauded the ground crew for holding their own against the more experienced US Air Force (USAF) when they won the Quarterly MHAFB’s Weapons Loading Competition twice.
They completed aircraft preparation, weapons loading inspection and tools checks 21 percent faster than the required time, hence setting a new base record for the fastest weapons loading time.
One of those commended by Mr Teo in his speech was Military Expert (ME) 2 Sivakumar, who is part of the squadron’s flight line crew. ME2 Sivakumar said: “Frankly, we lacked the experience in operating the F-15SG, but we made up for it with our hard work and training. We streamlined the competition requirements, and rehearsed our procedures over and over again, many times even after office hours, so I think our training and professionalism really paid off.”
He also expressed gratitude to his USAF counterparts, who were very helpful as they taught the Singapore team about the aircraft.
The F-15SG squadron will join the fighter group under the Air Combat Command, which plans, controls and executes air warfare operations. In the coming months, another five F-15SG fighter aircraft will return to Singapore.
The Peace Carvin V F-15SG fighter detachment at MHAFB – which was established as part of the USAF’s 428th Fighter Squadron – is maintained by the RSAF and will continue operating there for the next 25 years.
