The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) conducted Exercise Vigilant Shield 2016 on 28 Nov 16. Exercise Vigilant Shield is an air defence exercise to demonstrate the Air Defence Task Force's capabilities in responding to potential air threats with a robust 24/7 networked air defence system. Chief of Air Force Major-General (MG) Mervyn Tan visited the exercise at the Singapore Air Traffic Control Centre and witnessed the coordinated response to a simulated hijacked aircraft that was headed towards Singapore.

Speaking after the exercise, MG Tan said, "The successful conduct of this exercise demonstrated the RSAF's robust networked air defence system and our tight inter-agency linkages with our partners. The RSAF will continue to strengthen our ability to defend and safeguard the sovereignty of Singapore's airspace". 

This year's exercise involved about 400 participants from the RSAF, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Singapore Police Force. The RSAF also deployed assets such as the F-15SG fighter aircraft, AH-64D Apache helicopter, I-HAWK, SPYDER and RBS-70 Ground-Based Air Defence systems.