145 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name=RSAF 145 Squadron


role=Strike fighter
equipment=Twenty F-16D+ Fighting Falcons
garrison=Changi Air Base
motto="Swift & Valiant"
dates=1984
identification_symbol=A Hornet which is poised to sting.
battle_honours=

The 145 Squadron "Hornet" is a strike fighter squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force based currently at Changi Airbase (East) which is a new airbase built to the east of Singapore Changi Airport on reclaimed land. With the hornet as its motif, the squadron's motto is "Swift & Valiant".

History

First formed in 1984 at Tengah Air Base, the squadron flew the A-4S Skyhawk and later, the locally upgraded A-4SU Super Skyhawk, along with her sister squadron, the 142 Squadron. When the A-4SU was retired from active combat service, however, 142 Squadron was disbanded, while the 145 Squadron was retained to operate the newly-upgraded F-16Ds from the new air base, an unsurprising decision considering the fact that the 145 Squadron has emerged as the best fighter squadron for five consecutive years since the year 2000 in the annual Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition. [cite web| url=http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/news_and_events/nr/2000/jun/21jun00_nr2.html |title =The SAF's Best Combat Units |publisher =MINDEF press release, Dated: 21 Jun 2000]

New role

The twenty aircraft of the squadron are upgraded versions of the F-16D Block 52, hence known as the Block 52+ or F-16D+, are equipped with state-of-the-art Conformal Fuel Tanks, an enhanced radar with greater detection range and improved mapping capabilities, and an improved targeting pod, this enables the squadron to conduct precision day and night operations at a greater combat range and duration. This fact makes it a unique squadron within the RSAF as all it's aircraft are tandem seaters and every mission is flown with a Pilot and Weapon System Officer (WSO.)

Aircraft operated

#16 T/A-4SU Super Skyhawks (1984 - 2004)
#20 F-16D+ Fighting Falcons (2004 - present)

References

External links

* [http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/mindef_websites/atozlistings/air_force/assets/airbases_and_squadrons/Changi_Air_Base.html RSAF web page on 145 Sqn & Changi Air Base (CAB)]