149 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
| RSAF 149 Squadron | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1 June 1985 |
| Role | Fighter-bomber |
| Garrison/HQ | Paya Lebar Air Base |
| Motto(s) | "Steadfast" |
| Equipment |
Sixteen F-5S/T Tiger-IIs Five F-15SG Strike Eagles |
| Insignia | |
| Identification symbol | Shikra |
The 149 Squadron "Shikra" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force is a fighter-bomber squadron based at Paya Lebar Air Base, the squadron goes by the motto "Steadfast" with the Shikra adopted as its mascot.
History
Based at Paya Lebar Air Base, 149 Squadron was inaugurated on 1 June 1985 as one of the RSAF's fighter squadrons operating in the interceptor role. The squadron initially operated the supersonic F-5E/F Tiger II fighter aircraft, but has been operating the improved F-5S/T Tiger-IIs fighter aircraft since the early 1990s, these were retrofitted with new state-of-the-art avionics giving the aircraft capability of carrying out both Air-to Air and Air-to-Ground missions.
On 5 April 2010, the squadron was re-inaugurated by Defense Minister Teo Chee Hean in an RSAF ceremony at Paya Lebar Air Base, with the arrival of five F-15SG Strike fighters flown back the week before from Mountain Home AFB.[1]
Achievements
The squadron found itself actively involved in several major multilateral exercises such as Exercise Bersama Shield and Bersama Lima under the ambit of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), and Exercise Cope Tiger with the US and Thailand air forces in the year of 2007. Also, the squadron has won the Best Fighter Squadron award (Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition) for the fifth time in 2008; its past achievements being in 1986, 1988, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011 and 2013.[2]
Aircraft operated
- 15× F-5S & 1× F-5T Tiger-IIs (1985 - present)
- 24× F-15SG Strike Eagles (2010 - present)[1]
Photo gallery
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An F-5S Tiger-IIs of 149 Sqn taxi-ing towards the runway.
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Personnel and staff of 149 Sqn based at Paya Lebar Air Base posing in front of the squadron's F-5S after winning the Best Fighter Squadron award 2004.
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The squadron personnel and staff of 149 Sqn posing in front of the squadron's F-5S after winning the Best Fighter Squadron award 2008.
-
149 Sqn's F-15SG at Darwin Airport, 2011.
References
- 1 2 "Inauguration of the RSAF's First Local F-15SG Squadron" (Press release). MINDEF. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2011.
- ↑ "The SAF's Best Combat Units". MINDEF press release. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2008-10-24.