Pilots may sharpen skills for new warplane in US skies
David's article in the Straits Times yesterday on the F-15SG deployment at Mountain Home.
David Boey, DEFENCE CORRESPONDENT
10 November 2006
Straits Times
(c) 2006 Singapore Press Holdings Limited
RSAF may base training squadron of F-15SGs in Idaho for five to 20 years
PILOTS assigned to Singapore's newest warplane, the F-15SG, may sharpen their skills in American skies before flying the jets home.
The planes, 12 of which were ordered by Singapore from US aircraft manufacturer Boeing last December, require a typical training period of about two years for pilots to fully master its combat systems.
Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SGs are still being built in Boeing's plant in St Louis, Missouri, and may not be delivered until 2009.
The F-15SG (SG stands for Singapore), flown by one pilot and one weapons systems officer, is the latest variant of the F-15 Eagle.
According to the United States Air Force's (USAF) news bulletin, Singapore and the US hope to complete an 'environment impact assessment' by March next year with the activation of the squadron occurring later at an unstated date.
This study will determine how basing the F-15s in Idaho could affect the environment.
Defence analysts said training in the US would allow RSAF pilots to master the new warplane quickly, in less congested airspace, flying over training areas many times
bigger than Singapore.
The plan to base a training squadron of F-15SGs in the US state of Idaho was reported on Nov 1 by The Mountain Home News, a county newspaper.
The article stated that 10 F-15SGs, along with their flight and maintenance crew, could be assigned to the Mountain Home Air Force Base for five to 20 years.
Singapore's Ministry of Defence did not wish to elaborate on the plan, with a spokesman saying only that 'it would be premature for Mindef to comment on the issue'.
The USAF, too, refused to say more 'until final negotiations with the Government of Singapore are concluded', the paper said.
If RSAF F-15SGs are indeed stationed in Idaho for training, it would mirror earlier arrangements for warplanes and helicopters which Singapore has bought from the US.
For instance, RSAF F-16 fighter squadrons were based in Arizona and New Mexico, and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters are currently using a base in Arizona.
Also, KC-135R aerial refuelling tankers have operated from Kansas, while CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopters have flown from a base in Texas.
The F-15, which has never been shot down since it was brought into service 30 years ago, boasts a perfect combat record of 101 victories to zero defeats.
The plane is flown by the US, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Israel.
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