Over the skies of Barry M. Goldwater Range (BMGR), two Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) tracked the ground movements from above. The Heron 1 UAV was able to accurately pinpoint the locations of the four targets despite them being concealed in a cluster of similar-looking targets. Subsequently, the information was relayed back to the Command Post (CP), where they designated the appropriate platform to conduct the strike. Before long, the sizzling roars of the F-15SG fighter aircraft tore through the skies as it launched a succession of four 2000 pound Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) onto the hostile targets, leaving behind a trail of smoke below that spelt mission success.

Exercise Forging Sabre (XFS) is a biennial large-scale integrated strike exercise involving sense and strike assets from the RSAF and Army. Held from 28 Nov to 13 Dec 17 in Arizona, USA, XFS 17 is the sixth instalment in the series that began in 2005, involving about 750 active and NS personnel from the RSAF and Army.

XFS 17 saw the multi-faceted participation of the RSAF, which includes ten F-15SG fighter aircraft, ten F-16C/D fighter aircraft, six Apache attack helicopters, three Chinook helicopters and three Heron 1 UAVs. XFS 17 also featured the use of advanced munitions, such as the JDAM, Laser JDAMs, Laser Guided Bombs, and Hellfire missiles to destroy static and moving targets in day and night scenarios at BMGR, a training area approximately 20 times the size of Singapore.

Increasing Our Capabilities

Out-sense

Sensors scan the battlefield, to collect timely and accurate information on enemy targets. Sensors used during XFS 17 include the Heron 1 UAV, STrike ObserveRs Mission (STORM) teams and Commando detachments. The Heron 1 UAV is a single engine system equipped with advanced avionics and detection capabilities. It is able to relay timely and accurate intelligence of the battlefield from the air to allow quicker and sharper decision making back at the CP. On the ground, the STORM teams and Commando detachments can also locate and observe enemy targets. Together, these sensors provide comprehensive and persistent coverage of the battlefield, and supports the CP to rapidly direct a wide range of strike assets to engage any target.

Out-smart

The CP acts as the nerve centre of the exercise. In the CP, commanders and battle staff from the RSAF and SAF sit and work together, analysing the information that is picked up and sent back by the sensors. Using the Command and Control (C2) system, the information will be fused together to create a comprehensive real time situation picture. The commanders will be aware of the situation in the battlefield and will be able to swiftly identify and deploy the most suitable assets as a response. The C2 system has been evolving through the years. At XFS 17, the newly upgraded C2 system had the ability to perform more accurate and rapid battle damage assessment using new video analytics technology. On op of that, the C2 system is now able to overlay the  video footage on the map while providing geographical information, enabling the commanders to have a better understanding of the situation and to assign the most suitable asset for the strike.

Out-shoot

The SAF’s integrated strike capability employs a full range of assets and weapons to effectively destroy different types of enemy forces. Multiple moving enemy targets, such as tanks and multiple launch rocket systems can be destroyed by the laser guided bombs carried by the F-15SG and F-16C/D fighter aircraft or AH-64D Apache attack helicopter using radar-guided missiles. The High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) can fire M31 unitary rockets simultaneously at targets, such as enemy air defence and surveillance systems. The F-15SG fighter aircraft, apart from carrying laser bombs, is able to launch the Guided Bomb Unit-31 (GBU-31), a 2000 pound JDAM which is a GPS-guided precision munition that is capable of accurately targeting and destroying large or heavily fortified structures, such as enemy CPs and buildings. XFS17 is also the first time a live GBU-31 JDAM was dropped on the target.

The sixth iteration of XFS saw the first integrated participation of the Heron 1 UAV and the HIMARS, to provide a wide area of coverage over the battlefield. With the Heron 1 UAV’s ability to conduct area surveillance over the battlefield, it is able to collect timely and accurate information on the enemy targets. Thereafter, the crucial information is relayed to the HIMARS. This sense and strike combination is highly versatile as it can reduce collateral damage, thus allowing it to be highly effective even in urban areas.

LTA Joshua Lim, an Apache attack helicopter pilot from Peace Vanguard detachment commented about the importance of having the Heron 1 UAV to provide a realtime bird's eye view over the battlefield. “It is important because the Apache attack helicopters will not be able to see as far as our other assets. Therefore, they will act as our eyes and relay the information on the target to us and we will provide weapons on the target.”

Enhanced Capability

COMD Air Combat Command and Co-Exercise Director, BG Tommy Tan, shared about the significance of the integrated strike exercise. He said, “These missions involve picking up ‘pop-up’ targets that may be moving, tracking them continuously and making dynamic adjustments o ongoing strike plans to destroy the targets…At XFS 17, these missions are carried out in a realistic and challenging environment which strengthens our operational capabilities.”

"In this year’s exercise, we are deploying the GBU-31, a 2000 pound highly explosive Joint Direct Attack Munition by the F-15s. We are also deploying the HIMARS mobile command post that provides a very tightly-knit C2 to command the HIMARS firing outfield,” said Exercise Air Director, COL Liew Boon Ping.

LTA Yip Di Hao, a Weapon Systems Officer (Fighter) from PC V Detachment, remarked about the experience he gained throughout this exercise. “Actually this is my first time participating in XFS and flying in Arizona, it is a different airspace for sure and there are a lot of different ground targets to conduct military training. It is definitely a good experience to be flying here and dropping live bombs for the first time.”