Actually bought an issue of flight mag for this but now its downloadable foc (3.4mb). dated Dec 09.

http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/media...2009-44572.aspx

Cheers!

We have 1 Bell 412? Since when? <_<

Thanks! Downloaded it after my face palm moment in another thread... I resolve to look at it before commenting on the air forces of other countries... <_<

Some errors in the Malaysian entry, notably the Rooivalk, Mils and 2 Migs ordered in the entries and double the number of MB-339CMs in service.

we did had bell 412 long long time ago... but i thought they might already been retired... but i could be wrong.

our F-16C/D and F-5S seems lower then actual number... while our RF-5F... is missing... maybe retired?

and some F-50 is actually listed under the tanker list... are they really tankers or wat?

No not 412s. We had 3 Bell 212s for SAR in the 80s. All retired. Not sure where/how/why they listed RSAF having 412. Maybe something they know that we don't?

F-16 count is correct. 18+12+12+20 less 2 crashed.

I count 51 F-5E/F delivered. 42E 9F. 2 E w/o and 8 converted to RF-5E. So left 32 F-5E in the inventory and confirmed all upgraded to S so their number is slightly off. Unless some have retired liao in the past couple of years.

The RF-5S were retired some years back. (2004/5?)

Anyone know what happen to the Fennec helicopters? I tot we have 20?

stood down and sold

One of the fennec dropped like a stone from the sky, the others was sold to Chad I believed where they can continue to drop like a stone from the sky.

I believed I saw them at Rockhampton Airport during my Ex Wallaroo 93. Any one knows if they were indeed deployed there?

Makes me to wonder how they collate the information and whether they actually tried to verify the numbers. It's a good publishing though. Any similar articles for the army/ground forces?

http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/...ember-2009.html

"The directory uses abridged numerical information sourced from its MiliCAS and HeliCAS databases."

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The other database is IISS' annual military balance which has all 3 forces (army, navy and airforce). It costs ~$500 (my wife bought me one as a birthday gift a few years back, ordered through IISS) but its also available at the National Library in the reference section.

In IISS, SG is reflected as having 6 AB205s (UH-1Hs), whereas Flight states 5 AB205s and 1 Bell 412 (which is actually the 212 with a revised rotor system). It is interesting to note that it is also reported that SG considered Bell 412 in competition with the S-70B previously.

As a completely baseless question, could an upgrade have been made for that purpose?

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On a separate note, Bell does have a support/supply facility in Singapore (one of only 4).

http://www.bellhelicopter.textron.com/en/s...t/singapore.cfm

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16 CH-47 is confirmed to FMS declared numbers (purchased for a cost-effective $450,118,036).

What replaces the RF-5S after their retirement?

UAVs. UAV cameras have same/better resolution, live feed + no pilots risked + far cheaper to operate/purchase + better staying power/endurance.

SAR and inverse SAR too?

RF-5s have radars removed to place the cameras. UAVs can carry both + GMTI.

But the lack of speed makes UAV more prone to enemies AA. RF-5 can do at least Mach 1+ dash which make it a great recon asset.

Good points. There are cameras allowing use at high speeds.

Still, camera tech has improved to allow high resolution at medium/high altitudes.

Triple A/Short ranged sams are only effective at low altitude. More expensive medium ranged sams will be equally effective for a target moving at mach 1+ or 2+ at medium/high altitudes.

Its a cost equation. Risk a $?k recon UAV vs a $?m plane with pilot that takes $?m to train. Also, the Israelis exploited this by using UAVs as bait so that $?k sams will reveal their positions.

If I'm not wrong, the USAF retired the U-2/SR-71s and its other photo recon assets as well replaced by global hawks/hunters etc.

Replaced by reconnaissance satellites with down to 10cm resolution and real-time video capabilities. :P

The U-2 is still in operation. The USAF originally retired the SR-71, then re-activated it before re-retiring it. So I guess there are still some things that neither satellites nor UAVs can do :)

Perhaps the F-35's advanced sensors will allow us to replace the RF-5s with a more general platform?

Taiwan chose to replace their RF-5 with F-16 carrying a recon pod

Thks. Apparently U-2 retirement was delayed due to delays in global hawk induction. Having said that GH will eventually replace the U-2 as per factsheet below.

http://www.af.mil/information/factsheets/f...ID=13225&page=1

Just tot I also clarify that targeting pods like Sniper essentially carry cameras too.

Didn't know where to put this so ended up here.

APGC squadrons renamed, 4 new squadrons inaugurated

http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publicati...oct11_news.html

To better reflect the new and expanded roles of the Air Power Generation Command (APGC) squadrons, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) officially renamed 19 squadrons under APGC using three-digit numerical designations and inaugurated four new squadrons.

The four new Air Base Sustainment squadrons will be in charge of ground logistics.

The name change and inauguration come on the heels of an organisational review of APGC completed earlier this year, said Chief of Air Force Major-General Ng Chee Meng, who officiated at the renaming and inauguration ceremony on 5 Oct at the Air Force Training Command auditorium.

During the ceremony, MG Ng presented the new squadron logos to the commanding officers and chief warrant officers of the squadrons. He also explained that the changes were to better enable APGC to achieve its desired operational outcome and to develop the mindsets of its people "to sharpen their operational instinct and imbue in them a stronger sense of mission".

"Such an effort is significant because a squadron's name is an important element with which an individual in a squadron associates himself, both operationally and professionally," he added.

The new names also help to align APGC squadrons with other squadrons in the RSAF, which are identified by a three-digit number based on their functions.

With the change, the Flying Support, Airfield Maintenance, Field Defence and Ground Logistics squadrons have been renamed using the 200, 500, 600 and 700 series respectively. The Aircraft Operational Maintenance and Aircraft Specialist Maintenance squadrons were renamed using the 800 and 810 series respectively.

The last digit of the three-digit squadron number represents the air base in which the squadron is located. The numbers "5", "6", "7" and "8" represent Tengah Air Base (TAB), Sembawang Air Base (SBAB), Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) and Changi Air Base (CAB) respectively.

The squadrons are also grouped according to their functional areas, and these groupings have adopted new names or descriptors that better reflect the operational roles that personnel in the squadrons play.

The full list of the new squadron (sqn) names and their new descriptors is below.

Previous Sqn Name -/- New Sqn Name

Control Sqns
Flying Support Sqn, TAB -/- 205 Sqn
Flying Support Sqn, SBAB -/- 206 Sqn
Flying Support Sqn, PLAB -/- 207 Sqn
Flying Support Sqn, CAB -/- 208 Sqn

Air Base Civil Engineering Sqns
Airfield Maintenance Sqn, TAB -/- 505 Sqn
Airfield Maintenance Sqn, SBAB -/- 506 Sqn
Airfield Maintenance Sqn, PLAB -/- 507 Sqn
Airfield Maintenance Sqn, CAB -/- 508 Sqn

Force Protection Sqns
Field Defence Squadron, TAB -/- 605 Sqn
Field Defence Squadron, SBAB -/- 606 Sqn
Field Defence Squadron, PLAB -/- 607 Sqn
Field Defence Squadron, CAB -/- 608 Sqn

Air Base Sustainment Sqns
Ground Logistics Sqn, TAB -/- 705 Sqn
14 Ground Logistics Sqn, SBAB -/- 706 Sqn
15 Ground Logistics Sqn, PLAB -/- 707 Sqn
16 Ground Logistics Sqn, CAB -/- 708 Sqn

Aircraft Operational Maintenance Sqns
Aircraft Operational Maintenance Sqn, Air Logistics Group (ALG)- Fixed Wing (FW) 2, TAB -/- 805 Sqn
Aircraft Operational Maintenance Sqn, ALG - Rotary Wing (RW), SBAB -/- 806 Sqn
Aircraft Operational Maintenance Sqn, ALG-FW1, PLAB -/- 807 Sqn
Aircraft Operational Maintenance Sqn, ALG- FW2, CAB -/- 808 Sqn

Aircraft Specialist Maintenance Sqns
Aircraft Specialist Maintenance Sqn, ALG- FW2, TAB -/- 815 Sqn
Aircraft Specialist Maintenance Sqn, ALG- RW, SBAB -/- 816 Sqn
Aircraft Specialist Maintenance Sqn, ALG- FW1, PLAB -/- 817 Sqn