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Four Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16C jets have flown over RAAF Base Pearce during their extended fighter detachment.
From 25 September to 10 October, the extended fighter detachment (EFD) gave the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) personnel the opportunity to conduct a range of training activities using the vast and open airspace available in Western Australia.
Detachment Commander RSAF EFD Lieutenant Colonel Keith Chiang explained the value and effectiveness of how the EFD has aided in training and ensuring readiness of aircrews.
“Operating out of RAAF Base Pearce has provided us with access to valuable airspace for flying training,” he said.
“The success of this detachment is thanks to the strong support from the team at RAAF Base Pearce and the local community, made possible by the close and longstanding bilateral relationship between Australia and Singapore.”
The F‑16C is a multi-role fighter that has been in service to the RSAF since 1998, forming a key part of Singapore’s air combat fleet. It can reach over Mach 2 and is equipped with modern avionics, weapons and navigation systems. Its armaments include a 20mm cannon, AIM-9 and AIM-120 missiles, and precision-guided bombs.
RAAF EFD liaison officer, Wing Commander Gareth Neilsen, emphasised how the EFD was a display of the interoperability and camaraderie of RSAF with the RAAF.
“All the aircrew completed their ab initio flying training at 130 Squadron RSAF, a unit that has called RAAF Base Pearce home for more than 30 years,” WGCDR Neilsen said.
“RAAF Base Pearce has had to be agile to ensure EFD and local operations remained both safe and efficient.
“We have definitely built on experience gained from previous detachments – we better understand each other’s needs and limitations and have streamlined planning and execution processes.”
