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SAF Showcases Integrated Strike Capabilities at Exercise Forging Sabre 2011
10 December 2011
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) successfully conducted an integrated live-firing during Exercise Forging Sabre 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA earlier today (Singapore time).
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) successfully conducted an integrated live-firing during Exercise Forging Sabre 2011 in Phoenix, Arizona, USA earlier today (Singapore time). Held from 28 Nov to 11 Dec 2011, the exercise involves more than 450 personnel from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Army as well as assets such as F-15SG and F-16C/D fighters, and Apache AH-64D and Chinook CH-47 helicopters from the RSAF.
Exercise Forging Sabre 2011 is the third instalment in the series which began in 2005.The integrated live-firing, orchestrated by the exercise command post staffed by officers from the air force and army, involved multiple sensor and shooter platforms and was witnessed by Chief of Air Force, Major-General (MG) Ng Chee Meng and other senior SAF officers. Besides the deployment of advanced strike munitions, including Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) and Hellfire missiles, the exercise also saw the RSAF's F-15SG aircraft dropping Laser JDAMs for the first time against mobile targets in day and night mission scenarios.
Speaking after viewing the integrated live-firing, MG Ng noted that Exercise Forging Sabre 2011 provided an excellent opportunity for the SAF to validate its integrated strike capabilities in a realistic and challenging environment. He said: "I am very impressed by our people's combat proficiency, professionalism and dedication. I saw for myself today how our airmen and soldiers worked to bring together a sophisticated suite of both sensors and shooters, like our F-15SGs, F-16C/Ds and Apaches, to effect an integrated strike against a variety of targets, including mobile targets.
This in itself is a very complex operation and I think they have done very well." MG Ng also noted that the US' support of the Forging Sabre series of exercises was a testament to the long-standing and excellent defence ties between Singapore and the US. Besides interacting with SAF personnel participating in the exercise, MG Ng also took the opportunity to meet family members of SAF servicemen in the RSAF's F-16C/D training detachment at Luke Air Force Base.
Training in the US enables the SAF to build up its operational capabilities and readiness. Apart from supporting the conduct of training exercises such as Forging Sabre, the US also supports the RSAF's F-15SG, F-16C/D, Apache AH-64D and Chinook CH-47 aircraft training detachments in the US.
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