OPS & TRAINING

AIR KINGS

08 Mar 2016

Held from 20 Jan to 5 Feb, the Republic of Singapore Air Force Command Challenges test the mettle of the airmen and women of the five operational commands.

mar16_feature3

STORY // Ong Hong Tat

PHOTO // PIONEER Photographers & courtesy of the RSAF

Pilots and aircrew dash to their waiting aircraft in the Ops Scramble segment where they are expected to get the helicopters airborne as quickly as possible.

Top Notch Challenge

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) internal pilots monitoring the flight of the UAV, engine and system parameters during the Top Notch challenge.
Looking into every nook and cranny: UAV flight line crew checking the landing gear.

Air Warrior Challenge

 

A Super Puma coming in to base after completing a combat search-and-rescue mission. It also has to evade well-camouflaged Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) units looking to score points in the Flaming Arrow Challenge.
It takes precision: an Apache coming in to land within the set markers, no parking sensors!

Top Guardian Challenge

Tower of power: Controlling flight operations from the Sembawang Air Base control tower.
Controlling the skies: Air Warfare Officers (C3) pit their skills at orchestrating air and ground operations.

Bigshot Challenge

Ground crew from 111 SQN guiding the G550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft into the allocated space during the Precision Towing segment.
Crew towing a C-130 into place for the Precision Towing segment.
Assessors measuring how precisely a C-130 has been parked. Competition is keen and winners are often just centimetres apart!

Eagle Challenge

Logistics crew working to get the Apaches ready for flight. The Eagle Challenge tests Air Power Generation Command squadrons’ skill on everything from sustaining aircraft operations to managing threats.
Air Force Engineers repairing simulated damage on an F-5 aircraft as part of the Aircraft Salvage segment.

Flaming Arrow Challenge

An RBS 70 GBAD system mounted on a V200 armoured vehicle stands fully camouflaged and ready. Once camouflaged, the firing unit is harder to spot from the air.
Loading missiles onto the Surface-to-Air PYthon and DERby GBAD system.
Operationally Ready National Servicemen deploying the I-Hawk GBAD system. They are assessed on many aspects, from system knowledge to speed of deployment.

Hotshot Challenge

An F-16C flying low in preparation to fire its Gatling gun on a target on Pulau Pawai. The aircraft do this from 4,000ft up in the air at high speeds, not an easy task!
Soldiers changing the canvas strafing targets on Pulau Pawai in preparation for the next wave of fighter aircraft.
F-15SG fighter aircraft displaying their tail-flashes specially designed for Hotshot Challenge.

WINNERS LIST


Top Notch Challenge
(UAV squadrons)
Best Squadron: 128 SQN

Air Warrior Challenge
(Helicopter squadrons)
Best Squadron: 120 SQN

Top Guardian Challenge
(Control squadrons)
Best Tactical Control Squadron: 200 SQN

Bigshot Challenge
(Transport & utility aircraft squadrons)
Champion: 121 SQN

Eagle Challenge
(Air power generation squadrons)
Best Air Base: Paya Lebar Air Base

Flaming Arrow Challenge
(GBAD units)
Overall Champion: 163 SQN

Hotshot Challenge
(Fighter squadrons)
Best Overall Squadron: 140 SQN

 

Tags:
march-2016-issue
Share this story:

Got a great story to share?
Send it our way — we might feature it!

Share Your Story

ALSO READ IN OPS & TRAINING

SAF tests new fighting concepts & capabilities at Exercise Wallaby 2026

27 Oct 2026

With a focus on adaptability and innovation, the 36th Exercise Wallaby brings about 6,000 personnel and 1,200 platforms from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to Australia for complex, large-scale training.
This exercise marks the largest ADMM-Plus exercise in a decade, involving 2,200 personnel from the militaries of all 19 ADMM-Plus countries and civilian agencies.

19 countries come together for Exercise Trident Resolve

23 Sep 2026

This exercise marks the largest ADMM-Plus exercise in a decade, involving 2,200 personnel from the militaries of all 19 ADMM-Plus countries and civilian agencies.

S’pore commandos, Indonesia special forces train & strengthen ties at Ex Chandrapura

08 Jul 2026

From conducting tactical airborne jumps to a coordinated urban raid, soldiers from Singapore and Indonesia deepened their decades-long partnership in this bilateral army exercise.

SAF & Home Team to refresh Medical Classification System

13 Apr 2026

The refreshed system will allow about 1,200 servicemen annually to be deployed for vocations and roles they were ineligible for previously.