Subject: Re: Singapore AF History Part 1 of 3
From: "Steve Bamford" <[email-masked]>
To: "Mike Yeo" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 11:07:29 -0700

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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mike Yeo 
  To: Steve Bamford 
  Sent: Friday, August 08, 2003 8:42 AM
  Subject: Singapore AF History Part 1 of 3

  Hi Steve,

  heres Part 1 of 3 of the Wingnuts Singapore article on
  the History of the Singapore AF.

  PS. Please identify us as the Wingnuts in each of our
  Singapore National Day article. We are:

  Gareth Phua: 1/72 S.211 trainer and 1/72 Hunter FGA.74
  Sebastian Lim: 1/72 AS 532 Cougar (Super Puma)
  Kwek CL: 1/48 A-4S Skyhawk and 1/48 F-5E tiger II
  Low JW: 1/48 F-16A
  Me (Mike Yeo): 1/48 T-33

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  A Short History of the Republic of  Singapore Air Force

  by the Wingnuts Singapore, Text by Mike Yeo
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        Steve Bamford will insert full sized version of photo 01.jpg here 

  Situated at an important crossroads in the heart of Southeast Asia, Singapore is a vital economic link between the rapidly industrialising economies of East Asia and Europe and the Middle East. Just over 600 square kilometres in area, Singapore achieved its independence from firstly, British colonial rule and then Malaysia (Malaya) on the 9th of August 1965. Initially, air defence responsibilities fell on the shoulders of the Royal Air Force (RAF) with assets such as the Lightning, Javelin and Hunters in RAF markings a common sight around Singapore's airbases. However, with economic difficulties besetting the UK in the late 1960s, the then Labour Government in London decided in 1971 that all British forces "East of Suez" were to be pulled out, thrusting the responsibility of defending the small island state on its citizens shoulders. 

  With the impending British pullout imminent, the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC) was set up in 1968. Pilots were initially trained with aircraft borrowed from the Singapore Flying Club. By May 1969, eight Cessna 172s, the SADC's first aircraft, were purchased to serve as basic trainers. These were soon followed by the Commands first rotary winged assets, eight Aerospatiale Alouette III utility helicopters flown by a pool of French trained pilots in 1970. The arrival of 16 BAC 167 Strikemaster trainer/light-attack aircraft in October 1969 heralded the dawn of the SADC's jet age. 

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  The next big event in the SADC's annals was the delivery of the first of 47 Hawker Hunters(34 FGA Mk74s for ground attack, 4 FR Mk74s for recon and 9 TMk75s 2 seat trainers) from the UK in the September of 1970. With the Five-Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), consisting of Singapore, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand and the UK, being set up in early 1971, the SADC was ready to take over the reins of Singapore's air defence by the time of the final British pullout in September 1971. To assert its control over its Sea Lanes of Communications (SLOC) as well as to provide SAR assets, 6 Shorts Skyvan 3Ms joined the SADC in 1973-74. In addition to its maritime duties, the Skyvans also performed parachute and supply dropping tasks.

  Inheriting the former RAF bases at Tengah, Sembawang, Seletar and Changi, the SADC received a further boost in the form of 40 ex-US Navy A-4B/C Skyhawk fighter-bombers in the April of 1974. These aircraft were brought up to A-4S standard and with follow-up orders, the Skyhawk is today numerically the most important aircraft in Singapore's inventory with 150 airframes (though only 60-70 are serviceable) serving with 3 squardrons. Further upgrades to the 'Scooters' have ensured that the Skyhawk will be seen over Singapore's skies well into the next century. By 1975, the SADC was renamed the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and became a seperate branch of the armed forces. 

  From the 1980s onwards, the RSAF underwent great changes. Most facilities at the former RAF base at Changi made way for the new civilian airport and transferred to the previous civilian airport at Paya Lebar. New aircraft types such as the F-5E/F Tiger II and S-211 advanced trainer were added in the late 1970s/early 80s. Concurrently, a shift in emphasis from strength to technology was reflected by reccent purchases such as the F-16 Fighting Falcon and E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning (AEW) aircraft. At the same time, Singapore Aerospace (SAe) was set up to undertake various projects involving the aviation industry in Singapore. These have included upgrading the Skyhawk to the A-4SU Super Skyhawk with a brand new avionics fit and the F-404 engine as used by the F/A-18 Hornet. SAe has also assembled Aerospatiale AS332 Super Pumas helicopters and SIAI Marchetti S-211 trainers for the RSAF which were delivered in kit form from their respective manufacturers.

          
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  The 1990s saw a dramatic expansion of the RSAF's F-16 fleet, no less than 4 separate orders totaling 62 aircraft being made for late model Block 52/52+ F-16C/Ds. The F-16Ds are all configured for strike missions, being equipped with the dorsal spine found on missionised F-16Ds such as those of Israel and Greece. There were also important additions to the helicopter fleet, with 12 CH-47D/SDs in service/on order as well as 20 AH-64D Longbow Apaches. These mark the first heavylift and dedicated attack helicopter capabilities within the RSAF. Another first is the addition in 1994 of 9 Fokker 50 (4 utility/5 Maritime Patrol) aircraft to replace the Skyvans which gave the RSAF an armed maritime patrol capability which had been lacking in the older Skyvans.

  With more F-16s on order and an avionics upgrade project to it's fleet of F-5 Tigers ensuring that they will serve well into this decade at the very least, the RSAF is set to enter the next century boldly to face challenges unique to a small force. Shortage of land means that the RSAF has had to relocate part of its training assets overseas. Training detachments have been formed in Australia (S.211 and Super Puma), France (A-4SU Super Skyhawk) and the United States (F-16C/D, KC-135R, AH-64D and CH-47 Chinook). Indeed, an overseas training agreement is an important pre-requisite to the RSAF in its consideration of a Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) purchase, a decision which is expected in 2004. At the same time it has boosted its interaction with foreign air forces leading to a marked increase in exercises with these foreign air forces, both locally and overseas. Indeed, US Air Force aircraft are increasingly sighted over Singapore skies as the arrive year-round for exercises with the RSAF. These arrivals are bound to increase as the years go by and with peace by no means assured in a turbulent region, the RSAF has to be on its toes to deter potential aggressors. 

  Special Thanks to all Wingnuts who've contributed models to this article for National Day 2003! They are:

  Kwek - A-4S, F-5E
  Jer Wei - F-16A
  Gareth - Hunter, S.211
  Sebastian - Super Puma

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  Photos and text © 2003 by Mike Yeo

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