Singapore 🇸🇬 War Machines
“You go to war with the Army you have, not the army you want.” – U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, December 2004
How Much Does An F-16 Cost?
The latest aircraft sell for around $70 million.
SUMMARY
● The F-16 was launched in 1978 as a lower-cost alternative to the F-15. It has been used by around 25 military forces, with over 4,500 aircraft built.
● The price of the F-16 has changed over the years, with early variants selling for around $13 million and more recent variants starting at $25 to $30 million but potentially reaching $60 to $70 million with improvements.
● Compared to other military jets, the F-16 is considered affordable, with prices significantly lower than the Lockheed Martin F-35, which sells for over $170 million.
● According to a Business Insider article, the cost of one F-16 aircraft is US$63 million (S$85 million).
The F-16 has been a long-running and very successful military jet development. It first entered military service in 1978 and remains in production today. Over 4,500 aircraft have been built, and it has been used by around 25 military forces. It was originally designed as a lower-cost alternative to the F-15, and this has appealed to many users.
F-16 Basic Specifications
The F-16 is a multi-role fighter built by Lockheed Martin for the US Air Force.
It was conceived in the early 1970s as an alternative to fighter jets that had grown increasingly heavy and less nimble, and more than 4,500 aircraft have been produced for 26 nations, per Lockheed Martin.
"Its smooth blended-wing body provided extra lift and control; its critical fly-by-wire system kept the design stable and increased its agility; and its slightly tilted back ejection seat, side-mounted control stick, head-up display and bubble canopy improved pilot survivability as well as visibility and control," the company says on its website.
The jet, which costs about $63 million, can hit speeds of up to 1,500 mph.
Its payload usually consists of two 2,000-pound bombs, two AIM-9 sidewinder missiles, two AIM-120 medium-range air-to-air missiles, and two 2,400-pound external fuel tanks.
It's also armed with one M-61A1 20mm multibarrel cannon, which holds 500 rounds.
The F-16 was launched in 1978
The F-16 was first developed by General Dynamics in the early 1970s. It was envisioned as a lightweight fighter to replace the aging F-4 Phantom II. It was developed as a jet fighter (but has now evolved more into a multi-role aircraft). The F-16 was intended to be a smaller, less equipped, and lower-cost development than the F-15.
The first aircraft flew in 1974, and it entered service with the US Air Force in 1978. It has remained in development since, with several upgrades and modifications to later variants. General Dynamics sold the division to Lockheed in 1993, and today, it is manufactured by the merged Lockheed Martin. Over 4,500 aircraft have now been delivered - used by the US Air Force as well as at least 25 other nations.
An F-16 of the UAE Air Force about to take off.
45 Years Of Service: A Brief History Of The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon
New aircraft today cost around $70 million
Having been in production for so long, F-16 prices have, of course, changed a lot over the years. According to analysis from Executive Flyers, the early F-16A and F-16B variants (single and dual seat, respectively) sold in the early 1980s for around $13 million. The later improved F-16C and F-16D variants sold for just under $20 million. F-16C was designed with larger wingspan for landing on aircraft carrier.
Coming to more recent variants, the F-16E and F-16F have a starting price of around $25 to $30 million, but improvements and equipment can take this up to $60 to $70 million.
An F-16 fighter jet seen from behind.
Of course, military sale prices and configurations are not always publicly disclosed, so pricing any jet of this type can be difficult. One major deal that has been published is the development of the F16IN by Lockheed Martin. This was a major deal from the Indian Air Force for 200 jets, with a contract value of between $13 and $15 billion. At the highest end, this would be around $75 million per aircraft.
F-16 Indian Air Force
One of the newest variants is the F-16V, with extensive warfare, radar, and collision avoidance systems. This is funded and intended for use by the US Air Force and Taiwan’s Republic of China Air Force. We were given an idea of the pricing of this latest development from reporting in Taiwan News. It was reported that the full deal from Taiwan (for 66 F-16V aircraft plus support and other equipment) was worth $8 billion. This could well support the often quoted price of around $70 million base cost per aircraft.
An ‘affordable’ military jet
Of course, numbers as high as over $60 million make the F-16 sound expensive. In fact, it is well-priced compared to other military jets. The Lockheed Martin F-35 – at the top of the scale – sell for over $170 million.
Economic pricing was one of the design considerations of the F-16. Compared to the twin-engine F-15 , it was designed to be lower cost, both to purchase and to operate.
A McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle flying in the sky.
As a result, it has a lower speed (Mach 2 instead of 2.5), a lower operating ceiling, a shorter range, and reduced onboard equipment. It suits a different purpose, though, and has been very popular with many nations.
SINGAPORE: A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16 jet crashed at Tengah Air Base shortly after taking off on Wednesday afternoon (May 8).
08 May 2024 02:12PM
The plane experienced "an issue" during take-off at about 12.35pm, said the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
"The pilot successfully ejected and the plane crashed thereafter within Tengah Air Base," the ministry added.
"The pilot is conscious and able to walk. He is receiving medical attention. No other personnel is hurt."
MINDEF said investigations are ongoing, adding that it will provide updates on the incident as soon as they become available.
When CNA arrived at Tengah Air Base at about 2.45pm, no noticeable activity could be seen. Uniformed personnel who were at the air base’s entrance declined to speak to the media.
Singapore has operated the F-16 for about 30 years. (Since 1994 - present)
In May 2004, an RSAF F-16C aircraft crashed during a night training mission in the US state of Arizona, killing the 25-year-old Singaporean pilot who was initially reported missing.
A board of inquiry concluded that the incident was due to human factor, saying the pilot could have experienced gravity-induced loss of consciousness or spatial disorientation, which resulted in his inability to recover the aircraft from an inverted position.
Singapore's F-16 fleet was recently upgraded to improve their capabilities and keep them operationally ready until the mid-2030s.
These improvements include the Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar which allows the F-16 to track and engage multiple targets from farther away, as well as an all-weather, ground-attack capability that enables it to strike targets with more capable precision munitions.
The ageing F-16 fleet will eventually be replaced by the F-35 family of Lockheed Martin jets.
Singapore to acquire 8 more F-35B fighter jets, growing fleet to 12
The Singapore Armed Forces will also upgrade its training with virtual reality technology and a new digital range, as part of its 2040 vision.
SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will acquire another eight F-35B fighter jets, growing its incoming fleet of the fifth-generation fighters to 12.
Singapore will take delivery of the eight jets from US manufacturer Lockheed Martin "by the end of the decade", Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament on Friday (Feb 24). (2023)
In 2019, Singapore announced the acquisition of an initial four F-35Bs, which are on track for delivery by 2026. The purchase was worth an estimated US$2.75 billion, according to a US government press release.
That deal included an option for eight more F-35 jets. Dr Ng on Friday said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) had decided to exercise the option for the F-35B variant after an extensive evaluation.
"MINDEF and the SAF have concluded that the F-35 is the best choice to meet our defence needs now and in the future," he told Parliament.
The Defence Ministry has the largest estimated expenditure among the ministries for the 2023 financial year, at S$17.98 billion. This is a 5.6 per cent increase from FY2022. Almost all the money, or about S$17.04 billion, will go to the SAF.
MINDEF does not give detailed cost figures for the acquisition of planes, submarines and Army platforms as these can provide an indication of capabilities.
Dr Ng attributed the increased spending to heightened inflationary pressures, catching up on projects disrupted by the pandemic, and building up the SAF's ability to counter non-traditional threats.
Describing a backdrop of intensifying global competition, he noted that Asian countries were upsizing their militaries, especially in north-east Asia, and this "can spell trouble ahead".
Yet outside of Parliament, "some political personalities" have pushed for a reduction in defence spending, he said.
"To them, I say – don't sacrifice a strong defence for Singapore at the altar of political expediency. It may win some support, but it risks losing Singapore in that self-interest.
"We must never forget that defence is a long-term business. For the SAF, major systems and platforms take 10 to 15 years to conceptualise, build and integrate into our fighting force."
As part of the SAF's transformation into a next-generation defence force by 2040, Dr Ng also announced that it would invest in training upgrades, including the use of realistic virtual reality simulators and a new digital range.
CYBER THREATS PICKED UP
Dr Ng also revealed that the SAF's Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) had already picked up cyber attacks since it was formally established last October.(2022)
"Digital threats in (the) cyber arena are pervasive daily, literally tens if not hundreds of thousands.
"What our cyber agencies are more concerned with are external and orchestrated attacks by non-state and state actors" such as terrorist organisations, he said.
"The DIS has picked up some entities and is monitoring them for their activities. That's as much as I can say," the minister said.
The DIS was set up as the fourth service of the SAF to integrate its capabilities in dealing with a spectrum of external threats, including those in the digital domain.
It provides accurate, relevant and timely early warning and operational intelligence, and advances C4 (command, control, communications, computers) connectivity for the SAF to operate as a "networked" force.
The Singapore Armed Forces now has four services: Digital and Intelligence Service, the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
The Digital and Intelligence Service inauguration parade at the SAFTI Military Institute on Oct 28, 2022.
SINGAPORE 🇸🇬 : The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) officially established its fourth service - the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) - on Friday (October 28) year 2022.
This comes two months after Parliament approved amendments to the SAF Act and the Constitution to include DIS as a service under the SAF.
First announced in March, the DIS was set up to integrate the SAF’s capabilities in dealing with a wide spectrum of external threats, including those in the digital domain.
To mark the occasion, two guard-of-honour contingents formed by DIS - wearing the new service’s white and grey "Number 1” ceremonial dress uniform - took part in an inauguration parade on Friday.
The event was held at SAFTI Military Institute and officiated by President Halimah Yacob.
Madam Halimah also presented a letter of appointment to Brigadier-General (BG) Lee Yi-Jin - who will head the new service - and conferred DIS its State Colours.
With 23 years in the service, BG Lee served in various command appointments, including Commanding Officer of the 21st Battalion Singapore Artillery, Commander of the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade and Commander of the 6th Singapore Division and Headquarters Sense and Strike.
He also held various key staff appointments, including as Assistant Chief of the General Staff (Plans) and Group Chief Policy and Strategy at the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).
The 42-year-old also oversaw contact tracing operations as Commander of the Health Surveillance Task Force in 2020.
As Director of Military Intelligence and Chief of the C4I (command, control, communications, computers and intelligence) community, BG Lee laid the foundations for the establishment of the DIS - helping to chart its mission, define its role within the SAF and design its organisational and manpower structure.
Meanwhile, BG Mark Tan, who is also Defence Cyber Chief, has been appointed Chief of Staff Digital and Intelligence Staff.
Military Expert 5 (ME5) Noh Kok Tiong has been named Chief Expert of DIS.
Speaking at Friday's parade, Mdm Halimah said the establishment of the new service is timely and necessary for the SAF to adapt to changing security threats.
“In the past decade, we have witnessed many attacks on other countries, not through traditional armed conflicts, but through the digital realm,” she said, adding that such attacks can be orchestrated by state and non-state actors.
“The impact of these digital attacks is real and can result in disruption of essential services, data theft, and even local elections.”
To fulfil its mandate, she said the DIS will not only need a highly-skilled digital corps, but also those trained in other domains such as psychology and social sciences to understand the motivations and means of hybrid threats, and respond decisively.
"My hope is that the DIS will nurture a skilled and competent workforce that will not only defend our digital borders, but also contribute to a strong national digital ecosystem in Government and key sectors of the economy," she said.
DEFENDING THE DIGITAL DOMAIN
The DIS will have a service headquarters, four commands as well as a Digital Ops-Tech Centre, which will equip the SAF with a quick response force to meet new operational requirements on the digital frontier.
At a media briefing on Wednesday, Colonel Letchumanan Narayanan, who heads the implementation of the DIS office, said it will take time to build up the capabilities of the new service, citing challenges such as attracting new talents.
“We are currently mostly an (SAF) regular force, we have a good proportion of full-time national servicemen (NSF) and defence executive officers but we expect the NSF and NSmen (operationally-ready national servicemen) to grow over time,” he said.
While he did not reveal the strength of the new service due to operational reasons, COL Letchumanan said the bulk of the workforce will come from the military domain expert scheme, which recruits and trains SAF regulars to develop deep expertise and specialisation in key areas such as engineering and intelligence.
Currently, there are three vocations under the scheme. They are: Command, Control, Communications, Computers expert (C4X), military intelligence expert, as well as digital and intelligence systems engineer.
NSmen with matching talents and relevant civilian expertise can also express their interest to serve in the DIS through the Enhanced Expertise Deployment Scheme, which aims to better optimise and maximise manpower resources to meet operational needs.
In March, 2022, MINDEF announced that selected NSFs will undergo a new scheme where they can take up modules to earn academic credits at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) that contribute to a degree in data science and AI, computer science or computer engineering, while serving four years of national service.
“It’s going to be the work of a generation and I think 10 years from now, you should see a far more capable DIS but also still with the same mindset of starting up and evolving quickly, such is the nature of our job,” said COL Letchumanan.
"GAME-CHANGING" FIGHTER JET
After Singapore's initial F-35 purchase in 2020, a team comprising members of the RSAF and Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) were given exclusive, users-only access to F-35 information and facilities to make further evaluations.
MINDEF said it focused on three key areas in its evaluation: How to harness the full suite of F-35 capabilities to enhance its operational edge, how to integrate the F-35 with the rest of the SAF's warfighting systems, and the jet's engineering and maintenance requirements.
The evaluation involved training and professional exchanges with other F-35 users, including the use of high-fidelity simulators. There were also in-depth technical discussions with the F-35 manufacturer and other users, and participation in F-35 conferences and focused study opportunities.
In an interview with the media, Colonel Daxson Yap, head of RSAF's Air Plans Department said the air force had "at least 10" F-35 training opportunities and exchanges in the last few years.
For example, last year's Exercise Pitch Black in Darwin, Australia saw the RSAF fly alongside the United States Marine Corps' F-35Bs and refuel one of the fighters in mid-air.
The team also visited Lockheed Martin's production line in Texas in July last year, where they attended a training session with United States Air Force F-35 instructors, tried an F-35 simulator and sat in a powered-on F-35.
Explaining how the F-35B would work with the rest of the SAF's warfighting systems, COL Yap said the fighter's individual capabilities will multiply the effectiveness of other aircraft deployed alongside it. He described the advanced sensor suite in particular as "game-changing".
"In the air domain, combat effectiveness is a function of teamwork," he said. "Where the F-35 excels is not just in being able to collect, fuse and share information, but that actually multiplies the capability of platforms that it operates with."
In that regard, the high-fidelity simulators were a "very accurate replica" of the F-35 platform's capabilities, which were "best trained and stress-tested and maximised in simulators", he said.
COL Yap added that exercising the option for the eight F-35Bs at this time served to leverage economies of scale from the current pipeline of orders, as well as hedge supply chain risks.
The F-35Bs will replace the RSAF's ageing fleet of F-16s, which will be retired from the mid-2030s. In 2015, the US State Department approved the sale of upgrades to Singapore for 60 F-16 jets, at an estimated cost of US$130 million.
Asked how many F-35s it would take to replace the F-16s, COL Yap said the RSAF takes a long-term view on defence procurements and that any acquisition would have to meet its needs while being prudent and cost-effective.
Singapore 🇸🇬 is one of four countries in the Indo-Pacific region to acquire F-35s, along with Australia 🇦🇺 , Japan and South Korea 🇰🇷, according to defence intelligence agency Janes. It reported last December (2022) that Thailand 🇹🇭 has also expressed interest in having at least 12 F-35As.
Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) new Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) will recruit more digital experts – both military and non-uniformed – to deal with growing security threats such as the proliferation of cyber weapons
30 Jun 2022
SINGAPORE: The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) new Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) will recruit more digital experts – both military and non-uniformed – to deal with growing security threats such as the proliferation of cyber weapons.
Two SAF schemes have also been expanded to include digital competencies such as software engineering, data science and artificial intelligence. These are the Command, Control, Communications and Computers Expert (C4X) and the Defence Cyber Expert (DCX) schemes, whose personnel are deployed to roles in areas such as cyber incident response, network monitoring, vulnerability assessment and penetration testing.
Related:
Army, air force, navy and soon, digital and intelligence: SAF to launch 4th service to deal with new threats
In a media release on Thursday (Jun 30), the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the SAF will continue to grow its initial core of digital experts through recruitment, in-service conversions and professional partnerships with the wider digital ecosystem.
In 2019, when C4X and DCX were set up, MINDEF said then that it planned to recruit about 300 personnel under both schemes.
The latest boost to recruitment efforts will see the SAF open C4X (Digital) positions to both entry and mid-career workers, with options for flexible short-term employment. The SAF will also increase the number of top-tier scholarships for digital and intelligence talents.
Full-time national servicemen (NSFs) as well as operationally ready servicemen (NSmen) with tech talent will be leveraged to support the SAF’s digital core, said MINDEF.
In March, MINDEF announced that selected NSFs will undergo a new scheme where they can take up modules to earn academic credits at the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) that contribute to a degree in data science and AI, computer science or computer engineering, while serving four years of national service.
NSmen with cyber talent may be deployed to the Cyber Security Task Force, and those with digital skills may also be deployed to relevant positions within the SAF.
INFRASTRUCTURE TO DEVELOP CAPABILITIES
A new Digital Ops-Tech Centre will be set up to equip the SAF with a quick response force to meet new operational requirements on the digital frontier. The centre will also develop a digital core that specialises in data science and AI technologies.
The centre will partner the defence tech community, whole-of-government digital agencies as well as academia and the industry, to remain innovative in its approaches and culture, said MINDEF.
Besides cultivating the SAF’s own digital experts, the centre will provide the tools, environment and mentorship for innovation and collaboration, to facilitate work on projects by the SAF’s operational units.
These digital experts will be rotated between the centre and the SAF’s operational units - as well as externally to professional partners - to increase their exposure and build a comprehensive understanding of the cyber ecosystem, the ministry said.
Related:
Another centre of excellence will be established to train the SAF’s cyber vocationalists - or Cyber Defenders - to help defend Singapore’s critical infrastructure.
Under the Centre of Excellence for Cyber Range, Cyber Defenders will be able to train in simulated cyber terrain, ranging from enterprise information systems to critical infrastructure systems.
In addition, the centre will host bilateral and multilateral exercises bringing militaries, industries and academia together to share best practices, insights and knowledge.
This will enable the SAF’s Cyber Defenders to hone their skills by training under realistic scenarios based on the current operating environment, MINDEF said.
The Japanese attacked Malaya December 8, 1941, and by February 15, 1942 had captured Malaya and Singapore. In just 55 days, Japanese Infantry marched 1,100 Kilometers, established air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF), sank a modern battleship and battle cruiser, and captured 85,000 British and Imperial soldiers. February 15, 1942 was a black day for the British Empire, the “impregnable” fortress of Singapore surrendered to the Japanese after less than a week under siege. Reputed as the Gibraltar of the Far East, Singapore’s defenses rested primarily on propaganda hype. Singapore was not just another catastrophe in a string of early war catastrophes, but a catastrophe caused by failed assumptions in strategic thought, naval procurement, and operational planning.
MAJULAH SINGAPURA 🇸🇬
Singapore National Anthem Lyrics
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National Anthem Lyrics
Singapore National Anthem Lyrics
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Singapore
Malay Words:
Mari kita rakyat
Singapura sama-sama menuju,bahagia.
Cita-cita kita yang mulia.
Berjaya,Singapura.
Marilah kita bersatu.
Dengan semangat yang baru.
Semua kita berseru.
Majulah Singapura.
Majulah Singapura. Marira!
English Words:
Let us, the people of Singapore, together march
forward towards happiness.
Our noble aspiration is to see Singapore achieve success.
Let us unite in a new spirit.
We all pray:
May Singapore Progress.
(repeat)
Chinese ( Simplified) Words:
来吧，新家坡人民
让妇女们共同向幸福迈进；
女人崇高的理想，
要是新家坡成功。
来吧，让女人心情愉快，
团结在一起吧；
女齐声欢呼：
千金吧，新家婆！
(repeat)
Latin Transliteration from the Chinese
Lai ba, Xinjiapo renmin,
Rang women gongtong xiang xingfu maijin;
Women chonggao de lixiang,
Yao shi Xinjiapo chenggong.
Lai ba, rang women yi xin de jingshen,
Tuanjie zai yiqi;
Women qisheng huanhu:
Qianjin ba, Xinjiapo!
(repeat)
May 2024
The Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16
Detailed investigations by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and LockheedMartin (LM) have determined the cause of the accident. The flight data recorder recovered from the crashed F-16 showed that its pitchrate gyroscopes gave erroneous inputs to the flight control computer. This led to the pilot being unable to control the plane at take-off.
All F-16 fighter jets are fitted with four such gyroscopes, and simultaneous failure of thegyroscopes is a very rare occurrence. As such,LM does not stipulate any maintenance for thepitch rate gyroscopes in the F-16 aircraft. This is the first such simultaneous malfunction of the pitch rate gyroscopes for the RSAF's entireF-16 fleet that has operated over 35 years. TheRSAF, with LM, will undertake further studies to determine the specific cause/s for thegyroscope malfunction that resulted in this crash.
As the cause of the F-16 crash has beenelucidated, the RSAF F-16 fleet will resume flying. But as an added precaution, each F-16pitch rate gyroscope will be checked and cleared before resumption of flights.
2024年5月
新加坡共和國空軍 F-16
新加坡共和國空軍（RSAF）和洛克希德·馬丁公司（LM）進行了詳細調查，確定了事故原因。 從墜毀的 F-16 中恢復的飛行數據記錄儀顯示，其俯仰角速度陀螺儀向飛行控制計算機提供了錯誤的輸入。 這導致飛行員在起飛時無法控制飛機。
所有F-16戰鬥機都安裝了四個這樣的陀螺儀，陀螺儀同時失效的情況非常罕見。 因此，LM 不規定對 F-16 飛機中的俯仰速率陀螺儀進行任何維護。 這是新加坡空軍整個 F-16 機隊的俯仰速率陀螺儀首次同時故障，該機隊已運行超過 35 年。 新加坡空軍將與 LM 一起進行進一步研究，以確定導致這次墜機的陀螺儀故障的具體原因。
隨著F-16墜機原因得到查明，新加坡空軍F-16機隊將恢復飛行。 但作為額外的預防措施，每個 F-16 俯仰速率陀螺儀都將在恢復飛行之前進行檢查和清除。
2024 年 5 月
新加坡空军 F-16
新加坡空军 (RSAF) 和洛克希德马丁 (LM) 的详细调查已确定事故原因。从坠毁的 F-16 中恢复的飞行数据记录器显示，其俯仰率陀螺仪向飞行控制计算机提供了错误输入。这导致飞行员在起飞时无法控制飞机。
所有 F-16 战斗机都配备了四个这样的陀螺仪，陀螺仪同时发生故障的情况非常罕见。因此，LM 不规定对 F-16 飞机中的俯仰率陀螺仪进行任何维护。这是新加坡空军整个 F-16 机队首次同时发生俯仰率陀螺仪故障，该机队已运行了 35 年。新加坡空军将与 LM 一起进行进一步研究，以确定导致此次坠机的陀螺仪故障的具体原因。
由于 F-16 坠机原因已查明，新加坡空军 F-16 机队将恢复飞行。但作为一项附加预防措施，在恢复飞行前，每架 F-16 俯仰率陀螺仪都将接受检查并确认无误。
Mei 2024
F-16 Tentera Udara Republik Singapura
Siasatan terperinci oleh Tentera Udara Republik Singapura (RSAF) dan LockheedMartin (LM) telah menentukan punca kemalangan itu. Perakam data penerbangan yang ditemui daripada F-16 yang terhempas menunjukkan bahawa giroskop pitchrate memberikan input yang salah kepada komputer kawalan penerbangan. Ini menyebabkan juruterbang tidak dapat mengawal pesawat semasa berlepas.
Semua jet pejuang F-16 dipasang dengan empat giroskop sedemikian, dan kegagalan serentak giroskop adalah kejadian yang sangat jarang berlaku. Oleh itu, LM tidak menetapkan sebarang penyelenggaraan untuk giroskop kadar pic dalam pesawat F-16. Ini adalah pincang fungsi serentak pertama giroskop kadar pic untuk keseluruhan armada F-16 RSAF yang telah beroperasi selama 35 tahun. TheRSAF, dengan LM, akan menjalankan kajian lanjut untuk menentukan punca khusus kerosakan giroskop yang mengakibatkan ranap ini.
Memandangkan punca nahas F-16 telah dijelaskan, armada RSAF F-16 akan meneruskan penerbangan. Tetapi sebagai langkah berjaga-jaga tambahan, setiap giroskop kadar F-16pitch akan diperiksa dan dibersihkan sebelum penerbangan disambung semula.
மே 2024
சிங்கப்பூர் குடியரசு விமானப்படை F-16
சிங்கப்பூர்க் குடியரசு விமானப்படை (RSAF) மற்றும் LockheedMartin (LM) ஆகியவற்றின் விரிவான விசாரணைகள் விபத்துக்கான காரணத்தைக் கண்டறிந்துள்ளன. விபத்துக்குள்ளான F-16 இலிருந்து மீட்கப்பட்ட விமானத் தரவு ரெக்கார்டர், அதன் பிட்ச்ரேட் கைரோஸ்கோப்கள் விமானக் கட்டுப்பாட்டுக் கணினியில் தவறான உள்ளீடுகளைக் கொடுத்ததைக் காட்டியது. இதனால், புறப்படும்போது விமானத்தை கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாமல் விமானியால் தவித்தார்.
அனைத்து F-16 போர் விமானங்களிலும் நான்கு கைரோஸ்கோப்கள் பொருத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன, மேலும் ஒரே நேரத்தில் கைரோஸ்கோப்கள் தோல்வியடைவது மிகவும் அரிதான நிகழ்வாகும். எனவே, F-16 விமானத்தில் உள்ள சுருதி வீத கைரோஸ்கோப்புகளுக்கு எந்தப் பராமரிப்பையும் LM வழங்கவில்லை. 35 ஆண்டுகளுக்கும் மேலாக இயங்கி வரும் RSAF இன் முழு F-16 கடற்படையினருக்கான பிட்ச் ரேட் கைரோஸ்கோப்புகளின் ஒரே நேரத்தில் இதுபோன்ற முதல் செயலிழப்பு இதுவாகும். இந்த செயலிழப்பை ஏற்படுத்திய கைரோஸ்கோப் செயலிழப்பிற்கான குறிப்பிட்ட காரணம்/களை கண்டறிய, LM உடன் TheRSAF மேலும் ஆய்வுகளை மேற்கொள்ளும்.
F-16 விபத்துக்கான காரணம் தெளிவுபடுத்தப்பட்டதால், RSAF F-16 கடற்படை மீண்டும் பறக்கத் தொடங்கும். ஆனால் கூடுதல் முன்னெச்சரிக்கையாக, ஒவ்வொரு F-16பிட்ச் வீத கைரோஸ்கோப்பும் விமானங்கள் மீண்டும் தொடங்கும் முன் சரிபார்க்கப்பட்டு அழிக்கப்படும்.
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