New stunts for RSAF Apache helicopters, F-16C fighter jet performing at Singapore Airshow 2022

A pair of RSAF AH-64D Apache attack helicopters perform an aerial manoeuvre during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022. COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD February 2022.

🇸🇬 : A pair of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and an F-16C fighter jet will perform five new manoeuvres in an aerial display set to “dazzle” spectators at this year’s Singapore Airshow, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Thursday (Feb 10).

These include a precise “twin peaks” manoeuvre where the Apaches rise and dip sharply in unison, and a winding “falcon turn” used by the F-16C in air-to-air combat.

The airshow, to be held from Feb 15 to 18 at the Changi Exhibition Centre without public visiting days, will also feature an RSAF static display of seven assets, including its tanker-transport plane and unmanned aerial vehicle.

The public can view the aerial and static displays via livestream on each day of the airshow.

Singapore Airshow to have 8 flying displays; will be livestreamed to the public

The Apache helicopters and F-16C fighter jet will separately execute 12 and nine manoeuvres respectively in a 15-minute display that MINDEF said “demonstrates the manoeuvrability and precision of the two different types of aircraft, and reflects the capabilities, close coordination and team excellence of the RSAF personnel involved”.

The RSAF static display.

The H225M Medium Lift helicopter.

The static display comprises the F-15SG and F-16D+ fighter aircraft, AH-64D Apache helicopter, A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport, Hermes 450 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle, Aster 30 Missile System and the H225M Medium Lift helicopter.

The newly delivered H225M helicopter is making its static display debut, after it was shown for the first time in a Special Forces counterterrorism exercise at the Star Vista on Monday.

“BREATH OF FRESH AIR”

Colonel (COL) Kevin Wee, chairman of the flying display committee, said at a preview on Thursday that some of the aerial display manoeuvres were designed to push both pilot and machine to the limit.

For instance, he said the F-16C flies “abnormally” slowly - about one-third its cruising speed - in the “low and slow” manoeuvre, making it a real test of the pilot's skills before he ignites full afterburners to burst into a “muscle climb”.

An RSAF F-16C fighter jet takes part in an aerial display during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

The Apaches’ new “bow and tail sweep” and “corkscrew” manoeuvres require the helicopters to pitch and roll 60 degrees, beyond their usual operating limits.

“It really demonstrates how quickly we can conduct manoeuvres and orientate the aircraft accordingly,” said Major (MAJ) Tan Yu Zhi, 36, the lead Apache pilot taking part in the aerial display.

Major Tan Yu Zhi is the lead Apache pilot for the RSAF aerial display at the Singapore Airshow 2022.

MAJ Tan said the flying display team wanted to roll out new stunts at this year’s airshow as a “breath of fresh air”. These moves were conceived after a discussion within the team and did not come from a ready-made list, he said.

“Unlike the fighter aircraft, we (the helicopters) are slow. So, we really want to make sure that we can minimise the dead time between manoeuvres so that the audience is constantly wowed.”

PUTTING ON A SHOW

Preparation for the aerial display began in the second half of 2021 with the selection of pilots and manoeuvres, COL Wee said. Pilots were chosen based on their flying and airshow experience.

“We then started training in simulators and this allowed us to ... stitch together various manoeuvres into one coherent show,” he said, adding that flight training and rehearsals started last December.

RSAF Apache helicopters take part in an aerial display during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

While MAJ Tan said COVID-19 did not affect preparations given the well-established safe management measures, he acknowledged that the “short runway” for training made it even more important to have seasoned pilots with aerobatics experience who can perform safely and effectively.

Beyond the pilots, COL Wee singled out other personnel needed to pull off a successful aerial display. They take on airshow duties on top of their day-to-day operational roles.

This includes air traffic controllers who deconflict flights and secure the airspace during rehearsals, as well as flying display marshals - made up of “very senior” aircrew - who control the display sequence and help pilots finetune their manoeuvres.

An RSAF F-16C releasing flares as part of an aerial manoeuvre during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

Also crucial are the RSAF engineers and technicians who help launch and recover the aircraft at various bases.

“For the airshow, the pilots are doing their manoeuvres, so we have to be very precise in our checks to ensure that there is no out of the norm damage on the aircraft,” said Military Expert 1 Fion Leong, 30, an engineer working on the Apaches.

Singaporeans ❤️ 🇸🇬

New stunts for RSAF Apache helicopters, F-16C fighter jet performing at Singapore Airshow 2022

A pair of RSAF AH-64D Apache attack helicopters perform an aerial manoeuvre during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022. COVID-19 PANDEMIC PERIOD. 11 Feb 2022

SINGAPORE: A pair of Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and an F-16C fighter jet will perform five new manoeuvres in an aerial display set to “dazzle” spectators at this year’s Singapore Airshow, the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Thursday (Feb 10).

These include a precise “twin peaks” manoeuvre where the Apaches rise and dip sharply in unison, and a winding “falcon turn” used by the F-16C in air-to-air combat.

The public can view the aerial and static displays via livestream on each day of the airshow.

Singapore Airshow to have 8 flying displays; will be livestreamed to the public

The RSAF static display.

The H225M Medium Lift helicopter.

The newly delivered H225M helicopter is making its static display debut, after it was shown for the first time in a Special Forces counterterrorism exercise at the Star Vista on Monday.

“BREATH OF FRESH AIR”

Colonel (COL) Kevin Wee, chairman of the flying display committee, said at a preview on Thursday that some of the aerial display manoeuvres were designed to push both pilot and machine to the limit.

An RSAF F-16C fighter jet takes part in an aerial display during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

The Apaches’ new “bow and tail sweep” and “corkscrew” manoeuvres require the helicopters to pitch and roll 60 degrees, beyond their usual operating limits.

“It really demonstrates how quickly we can conduct manoeuvres and orientate the aircraft accordingly,” said Major (MAJ) Tan Yu Zhi, 36, the lead Apache pilot taking part in the aerial display.

Major Tan Yu Zhi is the lead Apache pilot for the RSAF aerial display at the Singapore Airshow 2022.

“Unlike the fighter aircraft, we (the helicopters) are slow. So, we really want to make sure that we can minimise the dead time between manoeuvres so that the audience is constantly wowed.”

PUTTING ON A SHOW

Preparation for the aerial display began in the second half of 2021 with the selection of pilots and manoeuvres, COL Wee said. Pilots were chosen based on their flying and airshow experience.

Two RSAF Apache helicopters take part in an aerial display during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

Beyond the pilots, COL Wee singled out other personnel needed to pull off a successful aerial display. They take on airshow duties on top of their day-to-day operational roles.

An RSAF F-16C releasing flares as part of an aerial manoeuvre during a rehearsal for the Singapore Airshow 2022.

Also crucial are the RSAF engineers and technicians who help launch and recover the aircraft at various bases.

The Red Hawks: Singapore’s Apache squadron

YEAR 2017

MILITARY AH-64 APACHE

When Singapore acquired eight

Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbows

in 1999 and another 12 in 2001, it

was the most expensive helicopter

programme in the region, worth

about $1 billion at that time. The

Republic of Singapore Air Force

(RSAF) became the third

international user of the Apache

Longbow and the first in Asia-

Pacific region. Fifteen years on, the

RSAF Apaches from 120 Squadron

‘Red Hawks’ continue to adapt to

modern-day threats and are

becoming more integrated with the

land forces to shape the land battle.

No.120 Squadron is based at

Sembawang Air Base, which

houses all RSAF helicopter units.

Initially deactivated in September

2005 upon the decommissioning

of the Bell UH-1H, the squadron

was reactivated on June 26, 2006,

after the arrival of the Apache

Longbow on January 23, 2006.

[ 8× SA316B Alouette III

(1968–1978, subsequently

transferred to Royal Malaysian

Air Force)

3× Bell 212 (1978–1985,

subsequently sold to

Sri Lanka Air Force)

24× UH-1H (1978–2005) 17×

UH-1H delivered in 1978 with

another 2× UH-1D (later

modernised to UH-1H standard)

and 5× UH-1H supplied in 1984.

In 2003, 7 airframes was

modernised and sold to Philippine

Air Force in a US$12 million deal.]

Today, the squadron is led by

Commanding Officer, Lieutenant

Colonel Eric Ng.

Concurrently, the RSAF continues to

operate the Peace Vanguard (PV)

detachment for its access to

training opportunities and live

firing area throughout the year.

Vanguard values

Based in Marana, Arizona, the PV

detachment was established in

2001 with the assistance of the

Arizona Army National Guard. The

RSAF officially stood up the unit on

April 9, 2003, and the detachment

remains the main platform for RSAF

attack helicopter training, with

access to year-round realistic

training aids for live firing sorties

and vast exercise areas around

20–25 times the size of Singapore.

In comparison, the Shoalwater Bay

Training Area in Queensland,

Australia, is about four or five times

the size of Singapore and can only

be utilised for around two months.

Lieutenant Colonel Ng said: “It is

what we can do here in the United

States. For example, we do our

annual gunnery qualification at

Boise, Idaho, where there are

pop-up moving target, which trains

our pilots to employ the right

techniques when it comes to

searching, acquiring and engaging

ground targets.”

Pilots and engineers are qualified in

Singapore before being sent to PV

for around two years, and actively

participate in various exercises in

the United States, such as Green

Flag East, Night Flag, Scorpion Fire

and Mojave Fire, with active US

Army and National Army Guard

units.

Upgraded AH-64D

Apache Longbow

(s/n 069) participated

in Exercise Wallaby for

the first time this year.

Major Spencer Ler, 120 Squadron’s

instructor and test pilot, said:

“Training in Singapore focuses

more on planning and synergy with

cross services. In the US, we learn

best practices, tactics, techniques

and procedures, although some

might not be applicable to us since

they have been operating in the

Middle East for the last 10 years.

They have very good Joint Tactical

Air Controllers [forward air

controllers] and most are aviators.

The way they talk you through and

lead to the target is very insightful

and we can appreciate what we see

versus what the ground guys see,

and correlate it into a 3D image in

our minds. We can then share this

with our local ground controllers

and develop new tactics, which

would be useful in a local context

where there is dense vegetation.”

Ng added that a practical skill taken

home was how the American

Apaches conduct urban operations

with their Joint Terminal Air

Controller, gained from their

experience in the Middle East

recently. He said: “They uses

gridded reference graphics to

conduct strikes and the way the

developed the graphics is

something we thought would be

good to bring back, which we did

and shared with our own

controllers.”

He also shared how the detachment

was also tasked with acquiring and

identifying the right target in a

cluttered, overpopulated area near

the Green Flag training area: “This

skill is brought back to Singapore

where there is the increasing

possibility to operate in a cluttered

environment.”

A key proof-of-concept exercise for RSAF’s four aircraft detachment is Exercise Forging Sabre, in which the PV detachment participates with its F-15SG, F-16C, F-16D and CH-47D counterparts. In the 2015 edition, PV’s Apaches demonstrated the ability to integrate with the Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and fire its AGM-114K Hellfire missile, lased by the Heron 1 whilst being under the treeline. The PV will participated in this year’s exercise in the end of November.

Participation command

Between 2007 and 2008, the RSAF

underwent a service-wide

restructure to reshuffle from base-

centric command to function-

centric command. No.120

Squadron with other helicopter

units is organised under the

Participation Command (PC),

whose main mission is to develop

and deliver air power to ‘decisively

influence the ground and maritime battles’.

In PC, the Operations Development

Group is a dedicated branch that, as

the name suggests, drives

development of participation in

operations; Integrated Operations

Branch provides cross-reporting

channels between the various

services, and an Army

representative sits within most of

its offices. Similarly, there are also

aviators in the Army’s Training and

Doctrine Command.

Ng said: “Now we drive the design

of the exercise objective together,

to determine what we wish to

achieve as a system.”

The command organises exchanges

with various armour regiments. Ng

explained: “Our operation is to hunt

and destroy armoured vehicles, so

if they understand our tactics they

will be able to develop tactics on

their own to be more effective. It is

also knowing and building the

rapport with the person on the other

side.” He added that they have

regular forums with other army

formations, including the

Commandos, Artillery and the

Guards, a rapid deployment unit

specialising in airborne operations.

Shaping the land battle at home

and aboard

A hallmark Singapore Armed Forces

air-land event is the annual Exercise

Wallaby held in Shoalwater Bay

Training Area. The exercise was

first staged as an Army manoeuvre

exercise in 1990, but Apaches did

not participate until 2006.

Ng said: “Wallaby used to be

predominately an army exercise

and air assets are support

elements. Air sorties, for example

strike and projection missions,

used to be segregated, and live

firing serials were separated by

time and would be hard to see

integrated firing.”

Ler added: “Especially after the

restructure, it is easier to plan for

exercises, as it is more holistic and

warfighting hubs are in place. The

planners get to understand the

strengths and weaknesses of both

services, which is essential as we

develop new TTPs [tactics,

techniques and procedures].”

The effectiveness of the RSAF to

call upon air assets into the training

area is multiplied with the

employment of 201 Squadron’s Air-

Land Tactical Control Centre

(ALTaCC), a mobile command and

control cabin, linked with various

air defence radars set up around

the training area. With clarity over

the airspace and land movements,

ALTaCC is able to manage and

optimise the airspace and

deconflict firing from artillery and

air defence weapons.

Apaches usually operate from

Rockhampton Airport or Australian

Army Defence Support Group

Camp Rocky and various outfield

deployment sites in the training

area. RSAF engineers (AFE) said

challenges in such exercises are

the exposure to weather and

elements, and the limited access

to spares.

Daniel Koh, 120 Squadron’s AFE,

said: “We would also have to

prepare lights and headlamps, for

example, to the outfield sites, since

it would be pitch black if we were to

do our maintenance there. We

would need to be adaptable and

innovative to generate our aircraft.”

This year (2017), four Apaches

were airlifted to Rockhampton

Airport via chartered Antonov

An-124. The helicopters were part

of a Large Force Employment

package, providing escort for the

Super Pumas and CH-47D, and

screening the terminal area for

hostile targets, and participated in

an integrated strike with the Guard’s

Light Strike Vehicles. They

demonstrated live firing of

simultaneous time-on-target of two

Hellfire missiles from two Apaches

against two targets for the first time

in this exercise.

A RSAF Apache

Longbow returns

to Rockhampton Airport

after a sortie in

Exercise Wallaby

2017.

An AFE loads an inert

AGM-114 Hellfire missile

at an outfield deployment

site during Exercise

Wallaby.

Back home, Ng shared that the

allweather Apache proved to be a

valuable asset, especially in the

unpredictable equatorial weather. In

a local army exercise, a UAV was

initially tasked with identifying and

providing strike coordinates for the

Apaches and fighters. However, due

to low storm clouds, the UAV optics

were unable to penetrate the cloud

base and the Apaches stepped in

to identify and strike the target by

operating below the cloud base.

Ng said: “The army appreciated our

contribution and the effectiveness

of the Apache in inclement weather

during the critical phase of the

exercise.”

Singapore air defence operations

A unique function of 120 Squadron’s

Apaches is their role in the RSAF’s

Air Defence Task Force, set up in

2010 as part of a multilayered air

defence umbrella to protect the

Singapore island against

conventional and unconventional

air threats. In other words, the

Apaches with their fighter

counterparts hold Quick Reaction

Alert duties 24/7. Watch here

Ler said: “It is the ability to be

activated as an air defence asset

that is the most critical in

peacetime operations. We

complement both the short-range

ground-based air defence missiles

and the air defence fighters as part

of the air defence umbrella. It

wasn’t easy initially for the aircraft

systems designers and engineers.

At that time, the role was not at the

forefront and we remain to the only

user to use it as air defence. We

have to adapt profiles from the

fighter platforms to suit the Apache.”

Maintaining the Apaches

No.120 Squadron has a pool of

regular AFEs, supplemented by

conscripted national servicemen technicians. Most of the time, they

conduct the before flight B/F

servicing, supervised by an AFE.

With dwindling birth rates in

Singapore, the RSAF faces a

shrinking pool of national personnel

posted to the service. Koh

highlighted that the squadron

qualifies both second-line engineers

and technicians to be trained for

dedicated crew chief tasks, and vice

versa, to ensure manpower for

cross-deployment. For example,

more AFEs will be transferred to the

second line during recovery phase

from exercises, where second line

duties are more prominent.

Situated just north of the equator,

Apaches based in Singapore are

subjected to harsh and humid

weather, as well as saline

conditions from the sea. Koh said it

requires additional attention and

innovation to maintain the platform

in such conditions: “For a start, in

Peace Vanguard we conduct aircraft

wash only every 60 days, but in

Singapore we have to do so every

month.”

The squadron also noticed sensors

for the monocle gun sights began to

degrade and fail sooner than

expected due to the humid

environment. In response, the

logistics team developed a process

to wrap these sensors with drying

agents, which will prolong the

serviceability of the systems. This

process is institutionalised in the

squadron and has saved the RSAF

significant resources.

Some of the degradation rates are

beyond the manufacturer’s

expectations. On September 30,

2010, AH-64D serial number 069

departed for a functional check

flight. Major Ler (then Captain) and

his co-pilot proceeded to carry out

the maximum power and

contingency power check for both

engines. As they were about to do

so on engine number two, they

experienced a failure in engine

number one. Engine number two

failed 75 seconds later and cockpit

power was lost. The pilots

attempted auto-rotation to the base,

but had to make a forced landing on

an open field. The impact of the

landing caused the tail to break off

from the main fuselage, but

thankfully the pilots emerged

unscathed. Watch here An Apache

AH-64 crash-landed in an open field

between Woodlands Avenue 12

and Woodlands Drive 64,

Singapore, at about 1530 hrs.

“Our preliminary findings are that a

mechanical problem was the cause

of the incident,” says defence

minister Teo Chee Hean. “We are

conducting investigations together

with the manufacturers of the

aircraft,” he adds. Boeing AH-64D

Apache manufacturers in

chronology:

Hughes Helicopters (1975–1984)

McDonnell Douglas (1984–1997)

Boeing Defense, Space & Security

(1997–present)

Early reports from Singapore’s

defence ministry had identified

“engine problems” as having

contributed to the mishap, which

happened during a maintenance

flight. It halted all training activities

with its remaining General Electric

T700-701C-powered Apaches and

T700-401C-engined Sikorsky S-70B

Seahawk helicopters pending the

results of an inspection of the

damaged Apache. This has now

been moved to the RSAF’s

Sembawang air base.

Investigations showed the anti-ice

start bleed valve (AISBV) in the

GE T700-GE-701 turbo shaft

engines had corroded internally,

which led to malfunction of the

guide vanes that channel air to the

aircraft engine and caused the

engine to fail. The chance of both

AISBVs failing at the same time is

said to be a million to one.

Future Apaches

The damaged aircraft was sent to

the United States for repairs, and by

April 2017 aircraft 069 was back in

Singapore sporting featuring

upgrades. As part of a fleet upgrade

and modernisation programme, it

was retrofitted with new

communications and electronic

countermeasure suites similar to

Israeli Defence Force’s (IDF)

AH- 64I Saraf.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence

said the Apache upgrade

programme involved: “equipping the

AH-64D with a Helicopter Integrated

Electronic Warfare System [HIEWS]

to enhance survivability and

SATCOM for more robust

communications”, adding that the

programme would take a few

years to complete.

One obvious feature added was two

SATCOM domes installed on the

outer wing stubs of the Apache to

ensure a 360-degree link. The

HIEWS is likely to be based on the

Elbit’s integrated electronic warfare

suite or Passive Airborne Warning

System, featuring new radar

warning receivers on the rear and

nose of the aircraft, although on

looking closely the chaff/flare

dispensers are not as extensive

as the IDF counterparts.

Aircraft 069 was deployed to

Exercise Wallaby for the first time

this year, together with the

upgraded CH-47SD. Since the

exercise is usually a proving

ground for the RSAF to test and

employ new tactics and systems, it

is very likely that the PC exercise

tested communication links using

the new SATCOM systems on both

platforms.

With Indonesia’s first AH-64E

Guardians due for delivery by end

of 2017, Ng is also optimistic that

his squadron will have joint

exercises with their Indonesian

counterparts and developments

are taking place.

An Apache receives fuel

at an outfield deployment

site. The ability to be deploy

-ed in such an area

prolongs the ability for

the Apache to support

ground forces further

in the exercise area.

As of 2023, the RSAF has a strength of 6,000 active personnel.

20× AH-64D ( year started 2006–present)

Singapore 🇸🇬 ordered a total of twenty (20) AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters in two batches. After a long period of negotiations over the delivery of the sophisticated Longbow Fire-control radar, the first batch of eight aircraft, fitted with the Fire Control Radar, was delivered on 17 May 2002. The second batch of 12 Apaches were ordered in 2001 even before the first delivery took place. All of the initial eight Apaches are based in the United States. Three of the Apache Longbows returned in January 2006 at the request of the Minister of Defence, Teo Chee Hean , office period from 2 August, 2003 to 20 May, 2011.

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Saturday, October 5, 2024

Singapore Airshow 2022

The Red Hawks: Singapore’s Apache squadron

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