FROM ROAD TO RUNWAY

11 Jan 2017 | OPS & TRAINING

FROM ROAD TO RUNWAY

STORY // Koh Eng Beng
PHOTO // Chai Sian Liang & Kenneth Lin

From road to runway

Story Koh Eng Beng | Photos Chai Sian Liang & Kenneth Lin

The Air Force shows it can launch fighter jets from a public road should the situation call for it. Find out what it takes to get runway-ready!

Fighter jets roar to the skies from Lim Chu Kang Road in quick succession at intervals of three to 10 seconds. As this happens, other fighter jets take off from the nearby Tengah Air Base.

In just under a minute, 12 fighter jets are in the air and ready to defend Singapore. This is Exercise Torrent, an alternate runway drill held on 13 Nov 2016 by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

A 2.5km stretch of Lim Chu Kang Road was converted into a makeshift airstrip. This is an important capability during wartime when runways might be damaged.

Four F-15SGs, ceight F-16s and nearly 1,000 personnel, including 500 Operationally Ready National Servicemen, took part in the drill.

PIONEER brings you all the thrilling action and behind-the-scenes preparations!

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