RSAF Wins Two Awards at Multilateral Large-Scale Air Combat Exercise Red Flag – Alaska

CPT Tan Yi (right), a first-time Mission Commander at Exercise Red Flag - Alaska, won the “Outstanding Mission Commander” award.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) participated in a United States Air Force (USAF)-hosted exercise, Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, United States, from 30 May to 14 June 2024. The RSAF has won two awards at the exercise - "Top Fighter Generation Squadron" and "Outstanding Mission Commander". The RSAF deployed 14 F-15SG and 10 F-16 fighter aircraft with over 300 personnel from its Peace Carvin II and Peace Carvin V detachments, to participate in this large-scale air-to-air combat exercise. In total, more than 90 aircraft, including fighter aircraft such as the USAF's F-16 and A-10, and the Indian Air Force (IAF)'s Rafale, were involved in this edition of Exercise Red Flag – Alaska.

During the exercise, the participants engaged in a series of air combat and strike training missions in a simulated combat environment. Selected RSAF personnel undertook Mission Commander roles, leading missions involving up to 50 aircraft each time. The large airspace and complex training scenarios provided valuable and realistic training for the RSAF's air and ground crew to hone their operational competencies.

Highlighting the significance of the RSAF's participation in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, LTC Lim Jian Yang, the RSAF Exercise Director, said, "Participating in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska has allowed the RSAF to leverage the large training airspace to hone our operational competencies in a realistic and complex training environment. In addition, our strong performance and the awards we have attained at this exercise are testament to the professionalism and high standards of both our aircrew and maintenance teams. I am proud yet humbled by their achievements, and this also enhances our confidence to defend Singapore. The exercise has provided us an opportunity to work alongside the other Air Forces, foster closer relations and ultimately strengthen our defence ties. We look forward to training together again in future exercises."

CPT Tan Yi, a first-time Mission Commander at Exercise Red Flag – Alaska who received the "Outstanding Mission Commander" award, said, "I am deeply honoured to have been recognised as the top mission commander in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska. I would like to thank my team, which includes the aircrew from the United States Air Force (USAF), Indian Air Force and RSAF, who supported me from the thorough mission planning to execution and debrief. I would also like to acknowledge the efforts of the ground crew for ensuring we had safe and airworthy aircraft to fly. Overall, I am proud to have represented Singapore and my squadron in this exercise."

USAF's Deployed Forces Commander for Exercise Red Flag – Alaska, COL Gregory G. Keller added, "The RSAF has performed exceptionally well here at Exercise Red Flag – Alaska. I am very impressed by the production of aircraft from the maintenance side, and the performance and professionalism of the aircrew in the air. I have had the opportunities to work with the RSAF before. I have been stationed at Luke Air Force Base where one of their squadrons is located and I have also been deployed to Mountain Home Air Force Base, and I have always been impressed by their capabilities."

The RSAF has participated in Exercise Red Flag – Alaska (previously called Exercise Cope Thunder) since 1984. The RSAF's participation underscores the excellent and long-standing defence ties between Singapore and the United States. It also enhances the professionalism and cooperation amongst the participating forces and provides the RSAF an opportunity to benchmark itself with other leading air forces.

The RSAF's Peace Carvin V detachment clinched the “Top Fighter Generation Squadron” award at this year's Exercise Red Flag - Alaska.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SGs at Exercise Red Flag - Alaska, hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF).

The RSAF's F-16s from Peace Carvin II detachment at Eielson Air Force Base for Exercise Red Flag - Alaska. (Photo Credit: 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs, USAF)

Personnel from the RSAF, USAF and Indian Air Force engaged in a mission planning phase.

An RSAF Air Force Engineer conducting pre-flight checks on the RSAF's F-15SG aircraft.