Republic of Singapore Air Force Qualify to Operate from Royal Australian Navy Ships

Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) CH-47 helicopter crews have obtained deck landing qualifications to the Royal Australian Navy’s (RAN) largest vessels, HMAS Adelaide and Canberra. HMAS Adelaide, which is the RAN’s high-readiness vessel was the platform for deck landing qualifications, which were completed over a two day period.

RSAF CH-47 heavy-lift helicopter crews, permanently based at Oakey in Queensland, were guided by HMAS Adelaide’s aviation team onto the flight deck.

The qualifications would provide significant benefits and boost overall combined capability for the Australian and Singapore Defence Forces, Commander Air, Adelaide, Commander Leon Volz said, in an Australian MoD release. “Gaining these qualifications allows the RSAF crews to operate to Adelaide, to Canberra and also to HMAS Choules, which will provide a significant capability enhancer between both our Defence forces. So, when we’re both operating in the region, for example, then we can actually cross-deck and gain more experience in the way that both Defence forces operate in the maritime aviation environment,” Volz said.

HMAS Adelaide was also undertaking a range of amphibious and aviation training exercises, off the coast of Queensland during the same period.

The year 2020 also marks the 30th anniversary of Singapore Armed Forces training in Australia.