combat aircraft

The fi ve RSAF CH-47Ds based at

Oakey will support SAF exercises in

Australia, which are increasing in

scope and scale. Roy Choo

CH-47SDs being air-freighted to
the exercise.
In response to a media query
by CA, a MINDEF Singapore
spokesperson explained, ‘The
SAF conducts regular reviews
of our training demands and
resource requirements. To enhance
integrated training with our army,
the RSAF recently transferred our
Chinooks to the Australian Army
Aviation Training Centre at Oakey.
We value and are grateful for the
training opportunities we had in
Peace Prairie in Texas, USA and the
friendship that had been fostered
over the years.’
The Oakey-based CH-47Ds are
earmarked for replacement by an
unspeci ed number of CH-47Fs
ordered in November 2016 for
delivery from 2020. Roy Choo

RAAF POSEIDON FIRES HARPOON

A ROYAL AUSTRALIAN Air Force

(RAAF) P-8A Poseidon aircraft

has successfully  red a Harpoon

anti-ship missile for the  rst time

during the 2018 Rim of the Paci c

(RIMPAC) 18 exercise. The Poseidon

 red the ATM-84J over the Paci c

Missile Range Facility, in Hawaii.

It successfully struck the former

USS Racine (LST 1191), which was

serving as a target for the exercise.

Tom Kaminski

Royal Australian Air Force P-8A serial A47-006 departs MCAS Kaneohe

Bay, Hawaii, during the Rim of the Pacifi c (RIMPAC) 2018 exercise. The

aircraft is carrying an ATM-84J Harpoon air-to-surface missile that was

later fi red. RAAF

COLOMBIAN KFIRS

ON ‘RED FLAG’

EXERCISE ‘RED FLAG 18-3’ took

place from July 23 to August 3 at

Nellis AFB. Nevada. In attendance

was the Colombian Air Force with

six of its heavily upgraded K rs.

Col Michael Mathes, 414th

Combat Training Squadron

commander, said, ‘They are

unmatched opportunities for our

airmen, sister services international

participants to experience realistic

combat scenarios that prepare

them for future con icts.

‘The Colombian Air Force’s

participation for this iteration

of ‘Red Flag’ is building on our

two countries’ long-standing

partnership and co-operation,’

continued Mathes. ‘We continue

to learn from each other and the

insight we gain into each other’s

operations ensures we maintain a

high level of mutual readiness.’

‘For the Colombian Air Force,

participating for the second

time in ‘Red Flag’ signi es the

opportunity to increase the

training of our pilots in a very

challenging environment,’

said Brig Gen Pablo Garcia,

Aerial Combat Command 1

commander. ‘We are ready to

learn, apply our knowledge and

gain more experience in combat

aerial maneuvers with combat

squadrons of the US Air Force.’

An ATM-84J Harpoon

is released from Royal

Australian Air Force

P-8A serial A47-006

during the RIMPAC 2018

exercise near Hawaii on

July 12. RAAF

A Colombian Air Force Kfi r lands at Nellis Air Force Base during

‘Red Flag 18-3’. USAF/SSgt Angela Ruiz

WORLD [NEWS]

http://www.combataircraft.net // October 2018 21