"> Exercise Forging Sabre 21 comprises a series of demanding missions set in both day and night scenarios that allow participants to hone their operational competencies. Read on to find out more. 
Day To Night in Exercise Forging Sabre 2021!
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The battlestaff in the Integrated Command Post have their eyes glued to the numerous screens. The atmosphere is tense, but they are all certain of the roles that they have to play to ensure that this mission is a success. There is suddenly a buzz of activity as a red rectangle flashes on the screens, highlighting four “targets”, simulated by Remote Controlled Vehicles (RCVs) travelling down a dirt road on the battlefield.
These targets have been spotted by the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) circling high above. Assisted by the artificial intelligence and data analytics in the enhanced Command and Control Information system (CCIS), the battlestaff are able to quickly confirm the targets, and the Commanders give the order to neutralise them.
The information is transmitted seamlessly to the fighters, and they swoop in to drop their laser-guided bombs on the targets in succession, which kick up clouds of dust on impact. When the dust settles, the Heron 1 UAV feed shows the wreckage of the vehicles left in the aftermath of the attack. The targets have been destroyed, and the mission has been accomplished successfully.
This was just one of the many scenarios that took place at Exercise Forging Sabre 2021 (XFS 21), which was conducted in Mountain Home, Idaho, US from 14 to 25 Sep 21. This year marked the eighth instalment of the biennial exercise, involving about 600 RSAF and 200 Army participants alongside a suite of sense and strike assets. The RSAF assets included the F-15SG and F-16C/D fighter aircraft, AH-64D Apache helicopter, Heron 1 UAV, and the A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (A330 MRTT).
XFS 21 provided our airmen and women with the chance to hone their skills and sharpen their edge through a series of demanding large-scale missions conducted in the vast training space available. Have you ever wonder what happens in a full day of the exercise? Check out what our team at XFS 21 learned to find out more!
It is an early start to the day for the team of Air Force Engineers (AFEs) from Peace Carvin II detachment – at the break of dawn, the men are busy loading munitions onto the F-16 fighter aircraft in preparation for a mission later in the day.
The Heron 1 UAV is the first RSAF asset to launch from Mountain Home Air Force Base in order to provide the Command Post with a situational picture of the battlefield. The Heron 1 pilots work with the AFEs to conduct one last round of checks to ensure that the Heron 1 is ready for flight.
At the same time, a team of AFEs from the Peace Vanguard detachment began conducting their pre-flight checks on the AH-64D Apache helicopter.
Battlestaff begin manning their stations in the Command Post, eyeing the real-time feed from the Heron 1 broadcasted on the screens.
The aircrew from Peace Carvin V detachment conduct their walk-around checks on the F-15SG at the flight line before they head out to the battlefield.
As the AH-64D Apache pilots perform their pre-flight checks on the helicopter, the AFEs load up rockets that will soon be fired at targets.
The Flight Line Crew from Peace Carvin II detachment marshalling the F-16 fighter aircraft towards the taxiway.
Take off! One of Peace Carvin V’s F-15SG fighter jets launch from Mountain Home Air Force Base.
The pilots and the Air Imagery Expert (AIRIX) from the Heron 1 detachment are hard at work during the mission, ensuring that the Heron 1 UAV provides persistent surveillance of the battlefield.
Two F-16 fighter aircraft soaring above the vast training area available in Mountain Home.
The A330 MRTT conducts air-to-air refuelling with the fighter aircraft nearby the battlefield so that the fighters can stay airborne for longer and successfully complete their mission.
An AH-64D Apache helicopter from Peace Vanguard Detachment circles towards one of the RCV targets, ready to fire.
As the sun sets, the missions at XFS 21 are far from over. Our RSAF personnel operate in both day and night conditions during the exercise. Here, an F-16 fighter aircraft launches for the battlefield.
Air-to-air refuelling in night conditions brings about its own set of challenges, but our team of Air Refuelling Operators onboard the A330 MRTT are up for the task!
Missions for the day have ended, but our personnel continues to work hard to prepare for the next day. The team of AFEs from Peace Carvin V detachment work into the night to load munitions onto the F-15SG. Kudos to our dedicated airmen and women for making XFS 21 such a success!
