A sonic boom generated by Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG fighter jets during a training exercise off the coast of Western Australia caused widespread alarm across Perth’s southern suburbs on Aug. 21.
This rotation will run through August and September, and include up to four Singaporean F-15SG aircraft and approx. 120 personnel.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force Extended Fighter Detachment involves three rotations in total. Photo: RAAF
The supersonic event occurred around 11:30 local time, with the shockwave felt from Mandurah to Fremantle and as far inland as Wandering in the wheat belt. Residents reported hearing a “deep bang” followed by a shock wave that rattled windows and shook structures.
Baldivis mother Krystal Brown described the experience: “It was really strange. It was like it was loud, but it was far away at the same time.”
The RSAF F-15s, participating in an extended fighter aircraft detachment hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), were operating approximately 30 nautical miles offshore in restricted Navy airspace near Garden Island. The jets were reportedly traveling at Mach 2 when the incident occurred.
The RSAF detachment arrived in Australia on August 12, with exercises scheduled to run from August 13 to September 9. This month-long deployment underscores the ongoing military cooperation between Singapore and Australia, providing RSAF pilots with valuable training opportunities in different environments.
Aviation expert Geoff Thomas explained, “By going supersonic, they’ve broken the sound barrier and it gives a loud, sharp crack.” The unusually widespread impact of the boom is attributed to a “perfect storm” of atmospheric conditions that amplified and propagated the sound over an extensive area.
Parmelia resident Hazel Williams recounted her experience: “It was just a massive boom. Very, very loud. Very intense. Very quick. I grabbed the cat and I thought, ‘I’m getting out of here’.”
The incident occurred within a stretch of active military operations airspace extending from near Busselton to just north of Perth. While military protocols typically restrict supersonic flight to over-water operations to minimize impact on populated areas, the exceptional propagation of this event prompted significant public reaction and initially puzzled local authorities.
A resident in Gosnells reported feeling a “huge rumble and movement,” adding that she had “never experienced anything like it before.” Another in Seville Grove said she “heard an underground rumble before we felt it” and that it “shook windows and rattled the roof.”
This occurrence underscores the potential for atmospheric anomalies to dramatically extend the reach of sonic booms, a factor of increasing importance as supersonic military operations continue in proximity to civilian populations. It also highlights the need for enhanced communication protocols between visiting military forces, host nation defense establishments, and local civilian authorities to manage public response to such events.
The RAAF and RSAF have not yet issued official statements regarding the incident or any potential review of supersonic flight procedures in the training area.
For more information, hit the Source below