The Republic of Singapore Air Force deployed airmen, F-16 fighters, F-15SG fighters and a G550 airborne early warning (AEW) aircraft to the US Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, on May 24.
For Singapore, this deployment will continue a long-running practice of training on Guam, having conducted bilateral exercises with the US Marine Corps as early as the 1990s. Most recently in 2019, the RSAF deployed to Andersen to conduct training.
The US Air Force said the deployment would provide bilateral training for aircrew and maintenance personnel to enhance interoperability and cultivate regional partnerships.
“We welcome the RSAF deployment and the opportunity to further enhance cooperation and bolster our respective capabilities together,” said Brig. Gen. Jeremy T. Sloane, 36th Wing commander. “The US-Singapore bond is grounded in a history of common interests and shared perspectives.”
“Participating in bilateral training events with our Pacific partners reinforces the US commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and enhances our combined strengths,” said Sloane. “These exercises also reaffirm our ability to receive multinational forces and hone professional competencies from the forward edge of the Indo-Pacific.”
In December 2019, US and Singaporean defense secretaries signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding establishing a Republic of Singapore Air Force permanent fighter training detachment on Guam.
The training presence, which will begin around 2029, will consist of approximately a squadron of aircraft and associated personnel, and include the construction of hangars, aprons, and support facilities for the detachment footprint.
The RSAF also operates at other US Air Force bases. The 425th Fighter Squadron flies F-16s out of Luke AFB, Arizona; the 428th FS flies F-15SGs from Mountain Home, Idaho; and the RSAF operates AH-64D helicopters from Silverbell Army Heliport in Marana, Arizona.
