A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG at Exercise Red Flag Alaska, hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF) earlier this month (photos : RSAF)
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has concluded its participation in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, a United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, United States. Held from 9 to 25 June 2022 (SG Time), 10 RSAF F-15SG fighter aircraft and over 140 RSAF personnel from Peace Carvin V (PC V) Detachment were deployed to participate in this large-scale air-to-air combat exercise.
This edition of Exercise Red Flag – Alaska involved more than 70 aircraft, including the USAF’s F-18, F-16, EA-18G and A-10 fighter aircraft. The USAF and RSAF worked closely on integrated missions in realistic threat and simulated combat scenarios, and honed their combat readiness and sharpened operational competencies.
Highlighting the significance of the RSAF’s participation in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, LTC Shewan Goh, the RSAF PC V Detachment Commander, said, “Exercise Red Flag – Alaska is an important opportunity for RSAF personnel to train and sharpen our operational competencies. The mission scenarios, involving advanced tactics and electronic warfare, were realistic and challenging. Our airmen and women were able to benchmark their skills with the USAF, and worked together closely to achieve our mission objectives. We are thankful to the USAF for being generous hosts, and look forward to future opportunities to train together.”
Lieutenant Colonel Christopher McGoffin, Director of Operations of the 18th Aggressors Squadron, United States Air Force said, “To have other forces exercise with us enhances our joint interoperability. Through Exercise Red Flag, we are able to provide a strenuous and realistic combat scenario to test their abilities. The RSAF have brought great capability to the fight and displayed exceptional tactics and competencies during the exercise. It is also important for us to continue to hone how we operate together, and strengthen our relationships at the professional and personal level through such exercises.”
The RSAF has been participating in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska (previously called Exercise Cope Thunder) since 1984. The exercise underscores the excellent and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and the United States. It enhances the professionalism and coordination amongst the participating forces, and provides the RSAF an opportunity to benchmark itself against other leading air forces.