The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) today concluded its participation in Exercise Red Flag – Nellis, hosted by the United States Air Force (USAF) and held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States, from 9 to 23 Mar 2019. This year, the RSAF clinched the "Outstanding Aircraft Maintenance Unit" award at the exercise.

The RSAF deployed six F-15SG fighter aircraft, and more than 100 personnel from its Peace Carvin V detachment in Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, to participate in the large-scale air combat exercise, involving close to 80 aircraft from Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States. 

Exercise Red Flag – Nellis is designed to enhance the combat readiness and operational competencies of the participating air forces through its realistic training scenarios, with the role of a dedicated F-16 fighter aircraft adversarial force taken on by the USAF's 64th Aggressor Squadron. 

Highlighting the significance of the RSAF's participation in this year's exercise, Lieutenant Colonel Oon Kok Choon, RSAF's Peace Carvin V Detachment Commander, said, "The exercise is an excellent opportunity for RSAF personnel to hone their operational competencies through realistic large-force training, alongside participants from other air forces. Having a dedicated adversarial force, which employed advanced tactics and electronic warfare made the training more realistic. The participation of Norway's F-35 fighter aircraft flying alongside the RSAF's F-15SG fighter aircraft in some missions offered many insights on how its superior capabilities in the areas of stealth, sensing and lethality allowed missions to be accomplished more effectively. The frequent interaction with the other participating air forces also enhanced our interoperability with them."

ME1 Joanne Lee Kia Hui, who was part of the Air Force Engineer team that received the "Outstanding Air Maintenance Unit" award said, "I am proud and honoured to be able to receive this award as it affirms the high standards and operational readiness of our aircrew and ground crew team. This award is testament to our performance during the exercise." 

Lieutenant Colonel Zachary Manning, Commanding Officer of the USAF's 64th Aggressor Squadron, was one of the pilots who flew against the RSAF's F-15SG during the training missions. "The RSAF has performed fantastically during this year's exercise. They have executed tactics on par with the other leading air forces, and have hit all the targets that they have been assigned. I am very pleased with the level of performance that they have been bringing," he said. "It is important that we continue to strengthen this relationship through exercises like this." 

Exercise Red Flag – Nellis underscores the excellent and long-standing defence relationship between the US and Singapore. It also enhances professionalism and interoperability among the participating forces, and provides the RSAF with an opportunity to benchmark itself against other leading air forces.