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Mint
3 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
Singapore, US Drop Plans for F-15 Fighter Jet Detachment in Guam
Singapore and the US have ended plans to base Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter jets in Guam, the Ministry of Defense said Tuesday, citing a review of training needs. The two sides 'mutually agreed to discontinue discussions' on the proposed detachment, which would have stationed up to 12 F-15 aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base starting in 2029. The decision was announced by the US Department of the Air Force in July and reported by media in Guam. The agreement to set up the detachment was signed in December 2019 as Singapore sought to maintain operational readiness for its air defenses in a location that allowed for quick re-deployment when required. The plan called for building new facilities on the base and moving RSAF personnel, their families and support staff to the US territory. However, a July 16 decision by the US Air Force stated without explanation that it 'will not implement or carry forward' the plans for Singapore's F-15s, as well as 'associated aircraft airfield operations, to include temporary support aircraft, and RSAF personnel or their families.' Residents near Andersen had voiced concerns about increased noise, environmental harm and strain on housing, according to an April environmental impact statement by the US. The plan would have brought about 205 permanent F-15 personnel with 35 dependents, plus roughly 200 more during periodic training events. 'The DAF recognizes the negative effects of military housing needs on local housing availability and affordability,' that statement reads, referring to the US Department of the Air Force. 'Housing issues as a result of overall military buildup and potential solutions are being addressed at higher levels.' It wasn't clear whether any of those issues contributed to the decision. The Singapore defense ministry's statement Tuesday didn't provide details on why the Guam proposal was dropped, saying only that the decision followed 'a review of the RSAF's training needs.' It didn't immediately respond to an email seeking further information on the decision. Singapore will continue to conduct short-term training and exercises in Guam, including a fighter training detachment later this year, the defense ministry said. Both countries are also moving ahead with a new fighter training detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which will host Singapore's F-35 jets. The Singaporean air force has 18 airbase training locations around the world, according to its website. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
CNA
3 days ago
- Politics
- CNA
Singapore, US shelve plans to base RSAF F-15SG fighter jets in Guam
SINGAPORE: A plan to station a dozen Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG fighter jets at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam has been shelved, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Tuesday (Aug 12). Following a review of the RSAF's training needs, MINDEF and the US Department of Defense (DoD) 'mutually agreed to discontinue discussions on an RSAF fighter training detachment in Guam'. "The RSAF will continue with periodic short-term training and exercises in Guam, such as an upcoming fighter training detachment in October to November 2025," it added. MINDEF said that it is working with the US on a new fighter training detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas, which will host the RSAF's future F-35 fighter training. 'Singapore and the US have excellent and long-standing bilateral defence cooperation,' said MINDEF. 'We thank the US DoD for their continued support of the RSAF's training detachments in the US, which are integral to the RSAF's honing of its operational capabilities.' The plan to base RSAF F-15SG fighter jets and associated mission support in Guam was announced in 2023, building upon a memorandum of understanding signed in 2019 by MINDEF and the DoD. The agreement laid out the framework for the Guam detachment, which would have allowed RSAF to quickly redeploy and recall assets back to Singapore when required. It had been set to be the fourth RSAF detachment on US soil and the closest one to Singapore. However, the US Department of the Air Force (DAF) said last month it would cancel the plan following environmental impact studies. "The DAF will not implement or carry forward the bed down of up to 12 RSAF F-15 aircraft" at Andersen Air Force Base, read a record of decision document signed by Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Michael Saunders on Jul 16. The document, which assessed the environmental impact of constructing new infrastructure at the base, said the DAF has considered the potential consequences of the plan and the alternatives. "The DAF also considered factors related to national defence, including mission support, infrastructure, weather, capacity, environmental criteria, cost, and military plans," it added. The US DAF will also not go ahead with the construction of munition storage facilities. "The DAF has adopted all practicable means to avoid or minimise environmental harm," the document read. The Singapore Armed Forces has trained in Guam since the 1990s. The RSAF has previously deployed fighter aircraft to Andersen Air Force Base for training with the US Pacific Air Force.
AsiaOne
3 days ago
- AsiaOne
Daily roundup: Off-duty healthcare professionals from Singapore revive elderly man in JB — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today. 1. 'We have to be ready anywhere, anytime': Off-duty healthcare professionals from Singapore revive elderly man in JB A team of off-duty patient care associates (PCAs) from Parkway East Hospital and Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital managed to save an elderly man's life after resuscitating him at a carpark in Johor Bahru... » READ MORE 2. Singapore delivers ninth tranche of humanitarian aid to Gaza A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) aircraft departed for Jordan on Tuesday (Aug 12) morning to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza for the ninth time. The RSAF C-130 transport craft left Paya Lebar Air Base carrying medical supplies from the Ministry of Health and food from various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) at about 7.10am... » READ MORE 3. Ong Ye Kung rebuts KF Seetoh's claims regarding treatment of stallholders at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre Health Minister Ong Ye Kung has rebutted local food critic KF Seetoh's concerns regarding the alleged treatment of hawkers at Bukit Canberra Hawker Centre. Ong, who oversees the ward where the food centre is located, took to Facebook on Monday (Aug 11) to refute the veteran critic's claims that stallholders are being charged for storing supplies in baskets and would be penalised for not providing free meals... » READ MORE 4. Singaporean woman deported from Malaysia A Singaporean woman was deported from Malaysia in the first week of August, the New Straits Times reported. The woman left Malaysia via the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex in Johor Bahru, according to a statement from Malaysian Immigration Department.... » READ MORE editor@
Online Citizen
3 days ago
- Politics
- Online Citizen
Singapore and US scrap plans for permanent RSAF F-15 detachment in Guam
Singapore and the United States have mutually agreed to cancel plans to permanently station 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets in Guam from 2029. The decision also means around 200 personnel and their dependants, who were expected to move from Singapore to support the mission, will no longer be deployed. According to The Guam Daily Post, the cancellation was revealed in the US Department of the Air Force's (DAF) Record of Decision (ROD) and final environmental impact statement. The ROD cited operational analysis, site surveys, environmental and economic assessments, public and agency feedback, and military judgement as contributing factors. Review of training needs Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed the decision on 12 August 2025, stating that it and the US Department of Defence (DOD) had 'mutually agreed to discontinue discussions' on the Guam detachment. The move followed a review of the RSAF's training needs, as per reported by Singapore's state media The Straits Times. Despite the cancellation of a permanent base, MINDEF said periodic short-term training and exercises in Guam would proceed. This includes an upcoming fighter training detachment from October to November 2025. New plans in Arkansas for F-35 training Singapore and the US are now working on establishing a new RSAF fighter training detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Fort Smith, Arkansas. This facility will host future F-35 fighter training. MINDEF reiterated the strong bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries and expressed appreciation for the US DOD's continued support of Singapore's training detachments in America. The US Air Force had earlier announced that it 'will not implement or carry forward the bed down' of RSAF F-15s at Andersen Air Force Base in Guam. This was detailed in a formal ROD signed by Acting Assistant Secretary of the Air Force Michael Saunders on 16 July 2025. The document outlined environmental assessments of hosting Singapore's aircraft and personnel, and the associated construction plans. While certain infrastructure projects such as airfield pavements, fuel lines, and stormwater facilities will still proceed, others — including a planned munitions storage area — will not be built. The ROD also confirmed that no RSAF personnel, families, or temporary support staff will be stationed in Guam under the cancelled arrangement. Agreement first signed in 2019 The memorandum of understanding for the Guam detachment was reached in 2019 after joint studies into training area suitability, infrastructure, and support facilities. MINDEF said at the time that Guam's vast airspace would allow realistic training to enhance operational readiness. The agreement was formally signed in December 2019. In December 2023, the US Air Force began studying the potential environmental impact of upgrades to support a long-term RSAF presence in Guam. The island, covering 550 square kilometres in the western Pacific Ocean, is located about 9,300km from San Francisco and 4,700km from Singapore. Past RSAF training in Guam The RSAF has previously deployed F-15s and other jets to Guam for short training periods in 2017, 2019, 2021, and 2023. Separately, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducted a major exercise in Guam and surrounding waters in June 2025. The 12-day bilateral Exercise Pacific Griffin was the fifth in its series. It involved RSN vessels, two RSAF Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, and six F-16 fighter jets.
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Singapore, US scrap plans for F-15 fighter jet training in Guam
Plans for a Singaporean fighter jet training presence in the US territory of Guam have been shelved, both governments have confirmed, despite years of preparation and investment in upgrading the US Air Force base on the Pacific island. Singapore and the United States had agreed to 'discontinue discussions' on deploying 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets to Guam, the city state's defence ministry announced on Tuesday. This followed an earlier statement from the US Air Force that it would not proceed with hosting the 12 F-15 aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, even after completing an environmental review and – according to media in Guam – the commencement of major construction to expand the base by about 209 acres (85 hectares). Infrastructure upgrades at the base will continue, but the US will not 'implement or carry forward the beddown' of the 12 aircraft 'nor associated aircraft airfield operations to include temporary support aircraft, and RSAF personnel or their families', according to a record of the decision dated July 16 and signed by Michael E. Saunders, acting assistant secretary of the US Air Force. An RSAF F-15 air-superiority fighter (centre) and two F-16s fly in formation over the South China Sea in 2018. Photo: AFP Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, Singapore's Defence Ministry said that both countries had 'mutually agreed to discontinue discussions on a RSAF fighter training detachment in Guam' following a review of the air force's training needs. The ministry added that the RSAF would continue to conduct periodic short-term training and exercises in Guam, including a coming fighter training detachment scheduled from October to November.
