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Frontline Fighters |
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(Source: Singapore Ministry of Defence; issued July 17, 2006)
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The squadron motif depicts a yellow and black striped hornet in an attacking stance to deter potential aggressors. Its blazed-green eyes and forward arching sting embody its readiness to strike swiftly to defend its nest, day or night. A thoroughly apt representation of 145 SQN, the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) frontline fighter squadron that is currently operating the newest and most advanced multi-role fighter - The F-16D Block 52+ aircraft.
Fresh from attaining Full Operational Capability (FOC), 145 SQN looks set to help meet the operational requirements of the SAF and contribute to the defence of Singapore.
Over the years, Singapore has steadily invested in the development of the Air Force. Today, the RSAF possesses a broad spectrum of capabilities, and has gained a reputation for its high operating standards as well as its professional and technology-savvy people.
"The RSAF has come a long way in a relatively short time," said Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean during the squadron's FOC ceremony. "Throughout its history, we have always been pushing forward - pushing the boundaries on technology, pushing the boundaries on their operational capabilities."
The F-16D Block 52+ is a direct result of that development. One of the best fighter aircraft in the world today, it carries Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFTs) and Litening III advanced targeting pods that give it extended endurance and precision-strike capability. The improved radar also grants a greater detection range and its ground-tracking capability enables air-to-ground weapon delivery under all weather conditions.
These improvements are particularly useful because increasingly, missions require added persistence in the air - with less refuelling stops and the ability to travel further.
The superior targeting pod also allows the air crew to conduct precision strikes with added confidence. The Weapon Systems Officer (WSO) (Fighter), who is seated in the tandem-seat behind the pilot, now has an additional tool to use for target interpretation and analysis.
"The aircraft is different in that it allows us to do more with less,” summed up 145 SQN's Commanding Officer LTC Lim Tuang Liang (left). "From one single aircraft, we can conduct a wide spectrum of precision day and night operations."
Pared-down workload
The instrumentation in the front and back of the F-16D Block 52+ can be controlled separately. This means the pilot can be engaged in one particular aspect of the mission, such as air-to-air radar targeting while the WSO can work on the air-to-ground strike.
This mission-based cockpit and tandem-seat configuration allows the squadron to participate in more complex missions simply because the synergies are better than what a single pilot can accomplish.
"You won't believe it until you see it, and when you see it, you will be amazed how putting an expert to help you manage your other avionics can be a force multiplier," said pilot CPT Teo Soo Yeow (left).
"Our junior pilots can be exposed to very complex missions because we can put the WSO there. So in that sense, it actually makes the learning curve a lot steeper, for us to mature a lot faster."
To fully integrate the aircrew, LTC Lim [said] that regardless of their identity as a pilot or WSO, squadron members who take to the skies are known uniformly as 'air crew'.
"There is minimal differentiation by way of duties as we operate around the squadron…We are also constantly emphasising the concept of Crew Resources Management, where there is always a check and balance and no amount of gradient in rank and experience will prevent interaction with anyone," LTC Lim said.
"It is this blurring of lines that has enabled us to work more effectively as a pair in the cockpit. This is actively encouraged throughout our missions where even our WSO has an important role to play in briefings and even the execution itself."
The squadron puts in 10- to 12-hour workdays
The ground crew work in shifts and reports to work as early as 4.30am to prepare for the first flight out for the day. "The ground crew are an essential part of the squadron, and are often underplayed or forgotten," said LTC Lim.
"Without them, we will not be able to take to the air. They serve an essential function of providing aircraft that is ready for launch, configured to the different missions that we are to undertake."
"It is also due to the confidence that we have in them that allows us to take to the air and focus on the mission, safe in the knowledge that the aircraft is of a high serviceability state."
Dedicated Crew Chief SSG Yeo Kok Kiat and the other ground crew take a personal interest in the workings of the aircraft and are committed to contributing to mission success.
"This is a first-line operation, a fighter squadron, so in a way we are like the first line of defence," he said.
"What is most satisfying is to fulfil the pilot's requirements for the mission so that they can have a successful mission and a safe flight back,” added Weapon Load Crew 3SG Tan Bao Jie.
As for the air crew, every working day is different. The day can start as early as 5am or as late as mid-day and it can stretch as late as midnight if there is night flying.
The squadron managed the admirable feat of achieving FOC within 10 months of delivery of the last aircraft.
FOC means that a squadron has passed a series of vigorous tests, including sparring with other fighter squadrons to verify its operational readiness. It has the people, aircraft and equipment to perform the complete range of missions assigned to the squadron.
Attaining FOC was a significant milestone for the squadron and a testament to the collective effort of all squadron members.
"FOC was one of the many goals the squadron set at the beginning. The biggest challenge was trying to validate our competency against the other fighters because that provides us with an insight into how well we have been training for the past 10 months and whether we are prepared for the future or when something happens," said WSO (Fighter) CPT Suresh Haridas.
"Now that we have achieved that, I think we are prepared to take on more challenging missions in the future. It is going to be hectic, but I think we are all psyched up for it!"
The squadron stays operationally ready by emphasising day-to-day professional and realistic training.
Squadron members go on overseas detachments in countries such as Australia, Thailand and the United States to exercise with other advanced air forces in vast airspaces and relatively unfamiliar terrain. It is a good opportunity to revise the basics and to validate tactics and doctrines.
On the road ahead, LTC Lim expects everyone in the squadron to uphold the highest standards in terms of operational excellence, yet at the same time to work together as a family. He believes by fostering such close bonds, the squadron can overcome any challenges and difficulties that may arise.
Ultimately, he envisions the squadron to be one of the leading fighter squadrons in the RSAF, where its professional standards and bearing are a model for all.
"This comes with responsibility as well as the awareness that the RSAF is a lot more than just flying and that the people in this squadron are truly able to operate in an integrated operational environment effectively, not only within the Air Force, but also with the Army and Navy," he said.
Tandem-seat fighters a boost for integrated strike operations
The F-16D Block 52+ fighter jet and its dual crew concept herald a new phase in the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) fighter capabilities.
"The dual crew concept - which the RSAF first experimented with six years ago - has transformed the way our fighter jets are employed," said Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, during 145 Squadron's Full Operational Capability (FOC) declaration ceremony held at Changi Air Base (East) on 24 May.
"This has enhanced the RSAF's contribution to the increasingly complex way in which the 3G SAF will have to operate in a tightly integrated manner in a networked environment which brings together the air, land and maritime dimensions."
The F-16D Block 52+ aircraft operated by 145 Squadron is the newest and most advanced multi-role fighter in the RSAF.
Commanding Officer 145 SQN LTC Lim Tuang Liang said the aircraft's advanced system capabilities allows it to conduct a variety of complex missions by day or night, with precision.
Critical to the success of the squadron's mission is the pilot-WSO synergy, and according to WSO (Fighter) CPT Suresh Haridas, it is very much enforced in 145 Squadron.
"We have to work hand-in-hand in everything. If we lacked one man, the mission would most likely be compromised," he said.
"In strike missions, the pilot is responsible for flying the aircraft. My main role is to specialise in air-to-ground roles and, of course, serve as an extra pair of eyes during the air-to-air combat arena to look out for aggressors."
Overall, CPT Suresh relishes the role he plays and said it was a great feeling to fly the "renowned best fighter".
The squadron took delivery of the first batch of the F-16D Block 52+ fighters in Jul 04.
It marked the first time that the RSAF's aircrew had ferried their own aircraft home - halfway across the globe from Texas to Changi. The journey took them over the Pacific Ocean and spanned over 16,000km, with a total flight time of 21 hours and seven mid-air refuelling sessions for each aircraft.
Even as the squadron was receiving its jets in several batches, an intensive operationalisation programme was being conducted simultaneously. This enabled the squadron to achieve FOC status 10 months from the delivery of the last of the 20 aircraft last June.
The squadron has participated in numerous multilateral exercises and was also given the honour of leading the National Day Parade flypast last year.
Established on 1 Apr 1984 at Tengah Air Base, 145 Squadron first started flying the A4 Skyhawks. After nearly two decades of service, the Squadron retired its ageing A4 fleet in Apr 03 and prepared for re-location to the new Changi base and for the arrival of the state-of-the-art F-16D Block 52+ fighters.
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