15 FACTS ABOUT THE F-15SG
From safeguarding Singapore’s skies to flying the flag high in multinational exercises, the RSAF’s F-15SG fighter jet is a force to be reckoned with.As we mark 15 years since it began protecting Singapore’s skies, here are 15 facts about this warbird – one of the most advanced variants of the Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle.
DESIGN & CAPABILITIES
1. Power & speed
The F-15SG is powered by two General Electric F110-GE-129 engines, each generating 29,000 pounds of thrust.
This enables speeds beyond Mach 2.5 (the speed of sound) and operations at altitudes up to 65,000ft (about 19,800m), providing superior aerial maneuverability.
2. Advanced radar
The F-15SG is the first production F-15 aircraft to have an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar with full air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities.
Its extended detection range not only allows the plane to detect and engage targets before it is detected, but also track and engage a higher number of targets than most other fighter radars.
3. Lethal firepower
AIM-120 and AIM-9X air-to-air missiles, laser-guided bombs, Maverick air-to-ground missiles and a 20mm M-61A1 Gatling gun – this fighter jet carries a wide variety of weapons to engage air and ground targets with precision.
Its max payload? 23,000lbs, with up to eight missiles in an air-to-air configuration, or up to 15 500lb-bombs in an air-to-ground configuration. The aircraft’s Gatling gun can also spit up to 6,000 rounds per minute.
MILESTONES
4. First delivery
The RSAF received the first batch of four F-15SGs on 7 May 2009 at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, United States (US).
This marked the beginning of the F-15SGs training there; RSAF pilots had previously undergone F-15 training with their US counterparts in North Carolina.
5. Arrival home
The F-15SGs returned from the US to Singapore in April 2010, and were assigned to 149 Squadron (SQN), the first local F-15SG squadron. They have since defended Singapore’s skies for one-and-a-half decades!
6. Operationally ready
The F-15SGs achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC) in 2013, meaning they were fully combat-ready and able to achieve a range of missions.
OPERATIONS & EXERCISES
7. Always ready to deploy
The F-15SGs stand ready when called upon to respond to any air threat, such as bomb threats on commercial flights.
Most recently on 15 Oct 2024, a pair of F-15SGs were scrambled to intercept Air India Express flight AXB684, following a bomb threat received by the airline.
The fighters escorted the civilian airliner, which was en route from Mumbai to Singapore, away from populated areas to land safely at Changi Airport at about 10pm. While these incidents eventually turned out to be hoaxes, they demonstrate the readiness and quick reaction of the crew in time-critical scenarios.
8. Flying high in overseas skies
The F-15SGs have flown Singapore’s flag high in numerous overseas exercises, holding their own when exercising with their international counterparts.
One such exercise is Exercise Pitch Black, a biennial large-scale multinational air combat exercise hosted in Darwin, Australia. The jets are also a familiar sight at Exercise Red Flag in the US, flying alongside aircraft from countries like India, the US and the United Kingdom.
RSAF UNITS
9. The Shikras
With the arrival of the F-15SGs in Singapore, 149 SQN was set up on 5 Apr 2010 to operate this advanced new aircraft.
Based at Paya Lebar Air Base, 149 SQN used to operate the Northrop F-5E Tiger II (before the fighter jets were decommissioned in 2015). It was re-inaugurated in 2010 to welcome the F-15SGs.
10. The Gryphons
A second F-15SG squadron – 142 SQN – was inaugurated in 2016 to operate and maintain the RSAF’s fleet of F-15SGs. Like 149 SQN, it was re-activated after the A-4B Skyhawks it used to operate were decommissioned.
11. Overseas detachments
Inaugurated in 2009, the RSAF’s Peace Carvin V detachment is based at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, US, where F-15SG aircrew and ground crew train and hone their warfighting skills.
FUN FACTS
12. Its pilot's helmet can "lock on" targets just by looking
The Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) worn by RSAF F-15SG pilots allows them to track and target enemy aircraft simply by looking at them. It also displays key flight and combat data so that pilots can stay focused on the fight, even during high-G manoeuvres.
13. High-G turns
Love the thrilling aerial moves in Top Gun? The F-15SG can sustain turns at up to 9Gs, meaning pilots experience nine times the force of gravity — enough to cause blackouts without proper training and equipment — during tight manoeuvres.
For an idea of how that feels, just know that a rollercoaster typically only pulls up to 4Gs!
14. Hyper-realistic simulator training
Simulator training can never replace live flying, but this is as close as it gets!
The F-15SG Air Mission Trainer not only mirrors the jet’s capabilities, but also generates a wide range of training scenarios that are difficult to replicate in real life. Up to eight pilots and weapon systems officers can train concurrently on this simulator.
15. Special livery
For the RSAF’s golden jubilee in 2018, a custom blue-themed F-15SG livery was unveiled at the Singapore Airshow that year.
The “50” is made up of an infinity symbol which represents that there are no limits to how far the RSAF can go, while the bright blue colour scheme symbolises the skies it defends.
