RSAF F-16C/D Vipers and F-15SG Mudhens
deploy to RAAF Base Pearce for three months.
Article & Images: Jaryd Stock
The Royal Australian Air Force will host an extended fighter aircraft detachment (EFD) from the Republic of Singapore Air Force over the period of June – October 2024. During this time, there will be periods of increased flying operations out of RAAF Base Pearce in Bullsbrook, Western Australia.
Additional to the RSAF Pilatus PC-21 which is operated by No.130 Squadron , the RAAF PC-21’s operated by No.2 Flying Training School and Hawk-127 Lead-in Fighter aircraft operated by No.79 Squadron which are currently based out of RAAF Base Pearce, the base will host small detachments of F-15SG Eagles affectionately known as Mudhens and F-16C/D/+ Fighting Falcons known as Vipers to their crews.
The RAAF have released details of the deployments which see F-16’s deploy to Pearce from June 24th onwards to July 13th, its then thought the F-16’s from No.145 Squadron which are based at Tengah Air Base will participate in Exercise Pitch Black deploying from Pearce to Darwin for the three week exercise.
After exercise Pitch Black has ended on August the 2nd, the F-15’s believed to be a culmination of personnel from 142nd and 149th Squadrons will swap with the F-16’s and deploy to Pearce from Darwin with flying from Pearce due to commence on August 9th which will carry through to August 28th.
The F-16’s will redeploy to Pearce from Singapore and swap with the F-15’s with flying expected to wind up in late September with aircraft departing back to Singapore by October the 2nd.
Its believed the RSAF contingent will train alongside associated RAAF Air Combat Group squadrons whilst deployed to Western Australia, most likely No.75 Squadron based at RAAF Base Tindal in the Northern Territory.
This is an extended deployment undertaken by the Singaporeans, the last extended deployment to Australia was by the RSAF 149th Fighter Squadron known as the “Flying Shikra’s” which deployed to Amberley after the 2018 iteration of Pitch Black, this EFD comes off the back of government cooperation pact between the Australian and Singaporean governments earlier in the year.
This deployment comes as RSAF No.112 Squadron Airbus A330 MRTT aircraft have deployed to Darwin in advance of Exercise Pitch Black for Exercise Diamond Storm which is currently taking place from RAAF Base Darwin and Tindal. Diamond Storm is the practical exercise for the RAAF’s Air Warfare Instructors Course which is due to wind up on July 26th.
Jaryd picked up a camera at a young age and has never looked back. He now combines photography and writing to highlight "Downunder" aviation; especially U.S. DoD units. Jaryd uses Nikon cameras and lenses.