RSAF'S ADVANCED H-450 UAV GOES OPERATIONAL

The Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF's) Hermes 450 (H-450) Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) has achieved Full Operational Capability (FOC), and this was marked by a ceremony this afternoon at Murai Camp officiated by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen.

Operated by the RSAF's 116 Squadron, the H-450 is the first advanced UAV to achieve FOC status in the Singapore Armed Forces. Compared with the older UAVs, the H-450 features extended endurance, advanced avionics, and more capable sensors.

These advanced capabilities are key, especially because of the increasing importance of UAVs in enhancing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance operations. Dr Ng elaborated: "UAVs are now indispensable assets in advanced Air Forces around the world.

"UAVs have now become a critical asset to many military operations and have proven themselves to make a decisive difference to outcomes, whether it is in peacetime operations or battles."

This is especially true for the H-450, which boasts a 3-in-1 payload that includes an Electro-Optical, Forward Looking Infra-Red system, and a Laser Designator. This enables the UAV to augment the SAF's battlefield surveillance capability through a wide array of missions such as target acquisition and designation, reconnaissance, and battle damage assessment. The H-450 also has an autonomous flight mode, which allows pilots to focus on collecting and processing information.

As Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Timothy Ang, Commanding Officer (CO) of 116 Squadron, elaborated on the capabilities and usage of the H-450: "It is an eye in the sky and will be used to support ground forces. For example, to provide real time updates to the ground commanders on the situation or to improve our strike effectiveness."

In his speech, Dr Ng also touched upon the past operational experience that the RSAF and SAF had with UAVs: "During our six-year-long deployment to Afghanistan, the SAF deployed our UAVs in theatre, where they provided surveillance over key roads and identified threats such as Improvised Explosive Devices for the International Security Assistance Force.

"The UAV task force and our Imagery Analysis Team received accolades from many military commanders and political leaders."

In addition, Dr Ng commended the defence engineers and scientists for their roles in delivering capable platforms such as the H-450: "I know that all groups worked very closely alongside together and that our engineers and technicians as well as scientists brought their technical expertise to help us realise this advanced fighting concept."

Also present at the ceremony were Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General Ng Chee Meng, Chief of Air Force Major-General Hoo Cher Mou, and other senior officers from the SAF.