MOS,
Chief of Defence Force,
Chief of Air Force,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good afternoon.

I am very pleased to be here today to inaugurate the first local F-15SG squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

Today's inauguration marks a major milestone in the 3rd Generation RSAF's transformation journey. The F15SG is a major enhancement to Singapore's air defence capability, and will also play a significant role in the SAF's overall operations. The F-15SG squadron will increase the SAF's ability to deal decisively with future threats and meet our critical operational needs.

The F-15 is a combat-proven aircraft renowned for its weapon load, range, speed and agility, with an impressive record in air-to-air encounters, and in the 'E' version, an equally well-respected air-to-ground capability. Our F-15s have coupled these well-known qualities with state-of-the-art sensors, avionics and weapons, to make our F-15s - the F-15SG - the most capable in the formidable F-15 family. These confer on the F-15SG extended air and surface detection ranges and network capabilities to share air and ground information with other aircraft. These features greatly enhance situational awareness and are a critical advantage when operating in a fast-paced and complex environment.

Our pilots started training with the US Air Force in July 2008, and they were ready to transition to our F15SG when the first F15SG was delivered to the RSAF in May 2009. The systematic manner in which we are operationalising the F-15SGs within this short time frame of 11 months, preceding our first aircraft, attests to the RSAF's ability to assimilate new capabilities and integrate them into our orbat. Our crews are not only able to fly the aircraft, but to fly them in operationally challenging mission-oriented scenarios. And our ground crews and engineers are able to turn the aircraft around and keep them in tip-top flying and fighting condition.

We have to thank the US Air Force for their assistance, without which operationalising the squadron would not have taken place as smoothly, quickly or as thoroughly. We appreciate the good training opportunities that the US Air Force have made available to us at Mountain Home Air Force Base given our own severe land and airspace constraints locally. Our training programmes in the US and exercises with the US Air Force, starting with the first F-16 detachment more than 20 years ago, have provided the RSAF with realistic, rigorous and demanding training to build up its operational capabilities and readiness. By deploying our F-15SG training detachment with the more experienced US Air Force F-15 squadrons at Mountain Home Air Force Base, our overall F15SG training is more efficiently conducted, shortening the time needed to operationalise our local squadron.

The first five of our F-15SGs returned to Singapore from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, United States, last week. We will be bringing home more F-15SGs in the coming months. We will have to ensure that we have enough F-15SGs to meet operational requirements in Singapore, while also having sufficient numbers to continue with our very valuable training in the United States.

While we may acquire more capable aircraft and systems, they will only be as effective as the people who operate and maintain them. Since taking delivery of the first F-15SG in May last year, our pilots, weapon system officers, engineers and ground crew have undergone rigorous training to acquire the competencies to operate and maintain the F-15SGs. The high level of operational proficiency they have acquired in a relatively short time is exemplified by our ground crew who have more than measured up to the high standards of their US counterparts.

Our Flight Line Crew held their own against the more experienced US Air Force ground crews by winning the Mountain Home Air Force Base's Weapons Loading Competition on two occasions. I would like to commend in particular ME2 Gene Tan, ME2 Sivakumar and ME2 George Ng, who played key roles in winning the competition, by completing the aircraft preparation, weapons loading inspection, and tools checks 21% faster than the requirement, and in the process setting a new base record for the fastest weapons loading time.

Back home, the F-15SGs have been assigned to 149 Squadron, known to the RSAF as the Fighting Shikras. 149 Squadron has served the RSAF with distinction and today marks a new chapter in its illustrious 25-year history. During this period, 149 Squadron has built up a strong track record and tradition for excellence - having won the RSAF Best Fighter Squadron Award five times in 1986, 1988, 2002, 2004 and 2008. I am confident that 149 Squadron will continue forward proudly with this tradition through the F15SGs.

To the men and women of 149 Squadron who have returned from your training in Mountain Home to set up this squadron - welcome home, to you and your families. Your hard work and high level of operational proficiency have borne fruit in terms of bringing back the first batch of our F-15SGs. But your heavy responsibilities and tasks as pioneers of the RSAF's F-15SG squadron have only just begun. As you build up the RSAF's latest fighter capability, it is important to always strive for higher standards, setting new operational benchmarks that you can share with other squadrons in the RSAF.

Do your best, and I know that we can count on each and every men and women of 149 squadron to always do your duty and do Singapore proud.

Thank you.