Republic of Singapore Air Force extends fighter deployment at RAAF Base Pearce

Due to Singapore’s constrained and congested airspace, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has frequently based training units and detachments overseas in France, the USA and Australia.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is mounting three training deployments to RAAF Base Pearce for this year, deploying F-15SG and F-16C/D/+ fighter aircraft to the base in Bullsbrook, Western Australia. The so-called Extended Fighter Detachment consists of three rotations by “small detachments of aircraft” flying multiple sorties each day. The first deployment ran between 24 June and 15 July, with F-16C+ and F-16D+ aircraft, and this was followed by a deployment of F-15SGs from 13 August to 9 September. A final rotation will see another deployment by F-16s between 9 September and 18 October.

The deployment of RSAF fast jets to Australia was announced in March this year, when the Prime Ministers of Australia and Singapore welcomed progress made in discussions about expanding training opportunities for the Singapore Armed Forces in Australia.

Singapore and the RSAF are no strangers to RAAF Base Pearce. The RSAF based the Aermacchi S-211 jet trainers of No.130 Squadron at the base from 1993. The Squadron remains at Pearce, now equipped with the Pilatus PC-21. These aircraft operate alongside RAAF training aircraft including the PC-21s of No. 2 Flying Training School and the Hawk 127s of No. 79 Squadron. The RSAF also maintains a CH-47 Chinook detachment at the Army Aviation Centre Oakey in Queensland.