Singapore Eyeing Ohakea to Base it's F-15's!!

[johnnyfalcon]

Labour's man openly supporting strike aircraft based at Ohakea as being 'beneficial for the region' and the 'infrastructure at Ohakea being under-utilised'...strikes me as more than a little ironic - if not hypocritical

[baileyt]

Feb 28, 2017 18:17:47 GMT 12 johnnyfalcon said:

Labour's man openly supporting strike aircraft based at Ohakea as being 'beneficial for the region' and the 'infrastructure at Ohakea being under-utilised'...strikes me as more than a little ironic - if not hypocritical

It's funny because I actually know his daughter.

[smithy]

Feb 28, 2017 17:51:46 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

We have better beer, wine, bars and women, the very needs of any fighter pilot.

Dave, you get my vote for Minister of Foreign Affairs mate!

[ErrolC]

www.defensenews.com/articles/singapore-eying-f-15-training-deployments-to-new-zealand

Singapore eying F-15 training deployments to New Zealand

By: Mike Yeo, February 28, 2017 (Photo Credit: Mike Yeo/Staff)

MELBOURNE, Australia – Singapore is considering basing Boeing F-15SG Eagles in New Zealand for training, according to the latter country's defense minister.


Gerry Brownlee said that Singapore was currently carrying out a feasibility study into the possibility of basing a detachment of F-15SGs at Royal New Zealand Air Force Base Ohakea, which could see up to 500 Singaporean personnel and their families stationed at Ohakea.


The small island state of Singapore has one of Southeast Asia’s most advanced militaries but lacks the land and airspace to effectively conduct training, and Brownlee noted to local media that "New Zealand doesn't have the same congestion, so the opportunity to fly more freely clearly exists at Ohakea."

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has several aircraft training detachments based in the United States, Australia and France while elements of its army also frequently deploy overseas for training.
...

[Deleted]

It'd be good to hear something on this from the Singaporeans. (apologies if I've missed that)

[skyhawkdon]

I doubt you will here much from them Zac. They operate very quietly behind the scenes. Even once they are based here don't expect to hear much from them about what they are doing.

[ErrolC]

www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/singapore-s-strike-eagles-show-flightless-kiwis

Singapore’s strike eagles show up flightless kiwis

By Euan Graham

02nd March, 2017 08:50

...

It is unlikely that New Zealand was Singapore’s first choice for basing F-15s overseas. RAAF Darwin was probably the preferred location. That would have given Singapore access to the nearby Delamere Air Weapons Range, and an easier pathway to interact with Singaporean units training in northern Queensland during two large-scale annual field exercises that will involve up to 14,000 personnel. Darwin would also be a better geographical fit for Singapore than Ohakea, being within ferry range for the F-15SG. Ohakea is more than double the distance, requiring refueling en route. The RSAF could employ its aerial tankers for this purpose in emergency. Otherwise, staging F-15s through Northern Australia to and from New Zealand could potentially offer the RSAF the best of both worlds from a training perspective. Singaporean F-15s are no stranger to the Northern Territory, as regular participants in the biennial Pitch Black exercise.

...

[johnnyfalcon]

Are F-15s still being manufactured?

[Brett]

Boeing still has the production line going - they have an order from Saudi Arabia for 84, plus up to 72 for Qatar.

There is also ongoing upgrade work for all existing customers.

[isc]

Boeing are also pushing the 2040-C which is an up grade and rebuild of the F-15C. The F-15C as it is , is expected to continue in it's current role in the USAF until at least 2025. The expected life of the 2040-C/f-15-c is about 36,000 hrs compared to other aircraft such as the F-16 with 8000/10,000hrs isc

2040-C stands for its use by date, design to last until 2040, so it will be around for a year or two yet.

[Dave Homewood]

Is the F-15 Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle two different aeroplanes? There is a Wikipedia page for each I noted.

[hardyakka]

Mar 2, 2017 20:49:00 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Is the F-15 Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle two different aeroplanes? There is a Wikipedia page for each I noted.

Pretty much. The original F-15 was an air-superiority design (fighter/interceptor). The F-15E Strike Eagle is optimized for ground attack (bomber/mud-mover). They have just reused parts of the airframe and engine. The Strike Eagle carries two crew and has an avionics/weapons suite more suited to the ground-pounder mission. Similar in concept to the F-18 Hornet versus the FA/18 Super Hornet for the Navy (and RAAF)

[Dave Homewood]

Thanks, I never realised that.

[Deleted]

Thanks Errol, that was a very interesting read and a helpful insight.

[mumbles]

Mar 2, 2017 20:49:00 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

Is the F-15 Eagle and F-15 Strike Eagle two different aeroplanes? There is a Wikipedia page for each I noted.

Just to add to hardyakka's reply, they are similar but different. The Strike Eagle was developed in the 80's to the same requirement that resulted in the awesome looking F-16XL - there was a fly-off and the F-15 was selected to supplant and ultimately replace the F-111. Despite the original F-15 having a supposed "not a pound for air to ground" philosophy, it did wind up with a secondary (but unused in service) ground attack capability. The Strike Eagle beefed up the F-15B trainer airframe among many other changes to handle the ground attack mission.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Dynamics_F-16XL

[Deleted]

To think if things had gone a little differently the RSAF might have had F-16XLs!

The Wanganui Chronicle has finally picked up the story (but is largely other stories/press releases rehashed) with a cool aerial photo of the RSAF visitors by Stu Munro: www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503426&objectid=11813554

[baileyt]

Has anyone got an update on this?

[typerated]

I'd be saying you won't get one - until you hear they are moving into Northern Aussie.

[skyhawkdon]

A RNZAF/NZDF project team has been formed...

[htbrst]

RSAF F-16's coming for 3 weeks at the end of the month: www.stuff.co.nz/manawatu-standard/news/94864316/Singapore-Air-Force-flies-in-to-Ohakea-for-flying-training

Singapore pilots will wing their way to Ohakea for training as top-leval talks continue about the Asian nation setting up a permanent Air Force base in New Zealand.

It was announced at the Ohakea Air Tattoo in February that Singapore officials were in talks with the New Zealand Government about the idea.

A New Zealand Defence Force spokesman said at the end of August, F16 fighter aircraft would visit Ohakea for three weeks for flying training.

Should Ohakea become a permanent training base for the Singapore Air Foce, an F15 fighter would be based there.

Discussions around the Singapore Air Force having a presence at Ohakea were continuing and the spokesman said this month's exercise was a useful opportunity to consider how the permanent-base proposal might work.

The Minister of Defence Mark Mitchell said the idea would be fantastic for the region, but it was early days.

Mitchell said New Zealand had a long-standing relationship with Singapore and there was strong commitment form both sides about the arrangement.

"At the moment it's just going through a process. It's a feasibility study."

About 200 serving Singapore personnel and their families would be based in Manawatu should the proposal go ahead, bringing about 500 people into the region.

Singapore Air Force had bases around the world, but Mitchell said he felt one here would be beneficial.

"There are close relations that exist between New Zealand and Singapore, we are pretty closely aligned in the values we have and the way our Defence Forces operate and, secondly, we offer some really good opportunities in terms of training capabilities," Mitchell said.

Due to its size, Singapore had trouble finding airspace to be able to train with the F15s in.

But Mitchell said he was being careful about managing people's expectations.

"There's still a lot of work to be done and there's a long way to go, but it's nice to be engaged. It's great that we are working together."