Speech by Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad at Pearce Detachment 30th Anniversary Celebrations on 13 Oct 2023

Ms Jessica Shaw, Member for Swan Hills,

Uncle Barry Winmar of the Whadjook Noongar Tribe,

Mayor and Councillors for the City of Swan,

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen from the Australian Department of Defence (ADoD) and Australian Defence Force (ADF), and;

Airmen and Airwomen from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF),

Good morning everyone.

I am delighted to join everyone today to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the RSAF detachment here in the Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce.

Let me first begin by respectfully acknowledging the Whadjook Noongar (pronounced "wod-JUK Nyun-gar") as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we gather today, and pay my respect to their Elders past, present and emerging. I extend that respect to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here today.

Appreciation to the Local Community

The 30th anniversary milestone is a strong symbol of the deep and longstanding friendship between Australia and Singapore, and our armed forces.

The flying training we conduct in Australia is very important to the RSAF, because Singapore is a small country with limited airspace. We require much more space than what we have in Singapore to conduct the realistic training that is needed to hone and sharpen the RSAF's operational skillsets. With access to training airspace here amounting to 14 times of what we have back home, the opportunities we have for training here in Pearce are invaluable.

On this note, please allow me to express Singapore's appreciation for the strong support that the RSAF has received from our local communities here – and of course, for welcoming us into your midst and for the warm hospitality that you have extended to our personnel, not just for now, but for the last 30 years. I understand from the RSAF personnel that there have been regular gatherings held at the base mess and squadron premises, where base personnel strengthen ties and forge new bonds. I was also told that the local community are very welcoming of our RSAF personnel, which has made it more seamless for their transition into the new culture and environment. But more importantly, the RSAF would not be able to commemorate our 30th anniversary here without the strong and enduring support of the local community, so thank you to all of you.

Bilateral Defence Cooperation

The SAF and the ADF share a long history of military cooperation, with Australian soldiers having fought in the defence of Malaya and Singapore during World War II. Our militaries have also worked together in joint deployments in East Timor, Afghanistan, and in Iraq as part of the Defeat-ISIS coalition. We also interact extensively through bilateral and multilateral exercises, mutual visits, and professional exchanges. The conduct of joint exercises with the ADF such as Exercise Trident^[1] and Exercise Pitch Black^[2] have enhanced the interoperability between our militaries and encouraged the cross-sharing of best practices, leading to professional learning. We are also pleased to support Australia's presence in our region, through facilitating the rotational deployment of Australian aircraft and ships to our bases.

The strength of our relationship has also withstood the challenges in the recent years. The SAF and ADF have worked hand in hand in responding to various crises such as fighting bush fires in Victoria in 2020, floods in Queensland and New South Wales in 2022, and facilitating the continuity of RSAF flying operations throughout the pandemic.

Earlier this week, I was in Rockhampton to visit our soldiers, airmen and airwomen who were taking part in the annual Exercise Wallaby. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of the SAF's training in Australia. I saw first-hand how the vast training space in Australia enabled the SAF to conduct complex, high-end training which we would not have had the opportunity to conduct in Singapore. This year, we also commemorate the 25th anniversary of the RSAF's Helicopter Training detachment in Oakey Army Aviation Centre in Queensland.

We have made great strides in defence cooperation under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP). This has been facilitated by our close partnership with the Australian Department of Defence. Next year, the construction of the expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland will be completed. This will make available state-of-the-art training facilities such as the Urban Operations Live Firing Facility and Combined Arms Air Land Range for use by both our armed forces to undertake complex and large-scale training and live-firing exercises, and this will benefit both our armed forces in Australia and Singapore.

During this trip, I also witnessed the strength of the people-to-people ties that we have forged over the years. This is best embodied in the relationship between the Royal Australian Air Forces' No.2 Flying Training School and the RSAF's 130 Squadron, who have both forged strong professional relationships and more importantly, genuine friendships. In fact, I understand that the basic flying training courses from both squadrons have been paired up as "sister courses", which reflects the desire to build professional and personal linkages from the very beginning. These professional exchanges have also extended to the Royal Australian Air Forces' Central Flying School and the RSAF's Standards Squadron, who have achieved a deeper mutual understanding of instructional techniques in flying training through regular professional interactions. This is exemplified in the instructor exchange programme between our Air Forces, where over the last fifteen years, flying instructors such as Flight Lieutenant Herman Pieterse, Ashley Rabbet, Simon Pietsch, and Daniel Van Der Linde, from the Royal Australian Air Force, and Captain Chan Wee Wee, Vincent Koh, Richmond Go, and Wilson Lum, from the RSAF, have groomed young airmen and airwomen from both our Air Forces and taught them to be professional aviators.

Message to the RSAF Airmen and Airwomen

To the RSAF airmen and airwomen: As professional aviators, all of you would know that the initial phase of flying training is the most critical in an aviator's flying career. 130 Squadron has been the starting point for many RSAF pilots and fighter Weapon System Officers. Today, more than 2,000 pilots, Weapon Systems Officers, and flying instructors have passed through Pearce on their way to attaining their wings and instructorships, and have benefited from the training airspace to sharpen their flying competencies. Together with Standards Squadron, which trains the RSAF's flying instructors, Pearce Detachment has achieved 200,000 operational flying hours, made up of approximately 100,000 S211 and 100,000 PC21 flying hours. This is a notable achievement, and is made possible only because of our continued close relationship between Australia and Singapore.

I am also pleased to note that the detachment's commitment to high professional standards and operational discipline, as well as a strong safety culture, has not wavered over the last 30 years. Importantly, the belief that training pilots for the Air Force is not just about training flying skills but is also about inculcating good officer qualities and core values. These are the foundations on which the RSAF is built on and are similarly embodied by our ADF host. I also note that we have with us today the previous Commanding Officers of Pearce detachment. To both 130 Squadron and Standards Squadron, present and past members, all of you have done well and anchored these values in our young trainees and budding instructors. The work that you do here at Pearce detachment has a direct impact on the success of the RSAF's mission to defend our sovereign skies and our nation. To all members of Pearce detachment, good work and keep it up.

Conclusion

In closing, I wish the RSAF detachment in Pearce a very happy 30th anniversary, and many more fruitful and safe years to come. Continue to build enduring friendships with our Royal Australian Air Force mates, as we forge ahead to further defence cooperation between our two Air Forces. Thank you, and congratulations once again.

[1]Exercise Trident is the signature tri-service bilateral exercise, involving ship-to-shore operations.

[2]Exercise Pitch Black is a biennial largescale multinational air combat exercise hosted by the RAAF. The RSAF participated in the 2022 edition with 8x F-15SGs, 8x F-16D+, 1x G550 Airborne Early Warning Aircraft and 1x A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

More Resources

The RSAF Commemorates 30 Years of Training in Pearce, Australia