140 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force

Last updated
RSAF 140 Squadron
140Sqn shoulder patch.jpg
Active1970-present
RoleMulti-role fighter
Garrison/HQ Tengah Air Base
Motto(s)"Stand Firm in Defence"
Equipment12 F-16C/D Fighting Falcons
Insignia
Identification
symbol
Osprey legs over the silhouette of Singapore

The 140 Squadron "Osprey" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force currently operates twelve F-16 Fighting Falcon of the F-16C/D Block 52 version. Based in Tengah Air Base, the squadron goes by the motto "Stand Firm in Defence" with the Osprey adopted as its mascot.

Contents

History

The Squadron was set up in September 1970 as Singapore's first Air Defence Fighter Squadron and received their first aircraft - twenty refurbished Hawker Hunters aircraft in July 1970. The Hawker Hunters served faithfully for twenty years, after which they were replaced by the F-16A/Bs in 1990. These were, in turn, replaced by newer F-16C/Ds in 2000 and were subsequently transferred to Royal Thai Air Force the same year.

The Squadron celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2020.

Information

The tail is adorned with a red checkered tailband. The squadron's logo is centered with the serial number on the base of the tail. This scheme was already applied during the F-16A/B era. [1]

Achievements

140 Squadron is also a consistent winner in the annual Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition for the Air Force, having emerged as the Best Fighter Squadron since the competition's inception back in 1985. Namely: 1985, 1987, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2016.

140 Squadron won the Best Squadron for the Hotshot Challenge 2016. [2] It celebrated its 45th anniversary in 2015 and won the Best Fighter Squadron.

Aircraft operated

  1. 46× Hawker Hunters (1970–1992)
  2. 8× F-16A/B Fighting Falcons (1990–2004)
  3. 12× F-16C/D Fighting Falcons (2003–present)

Latest photo

Related Research Articles

Hawker Hunter 1950s family of British fighter aircraft

The Hawker Hunter is a transonic British jet-powered fighter aircraft that was developed by Hawker Aircraft for the Royal Air Force (RAF) during the late 1940s and early 1950s. It was designed to take advantage of the newly developed Rolls-Royce Avon turbojet engine and the swept wing, and was the first jet-powered aircraft produced by Hawker to be procured by the RAF. On 7 September 1953, the modified first prototype broke the world air speed record for aircraft, achieving a speed of 727.63 mph.

Republic of Singapore Air Force Air warfare branch of Singapores military

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is the aerial warfare branch of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first founded on 1 September 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command (SADC), before being renamed to its current iteration on 1 April 1975.

Royal Netherlands Air Force Air warfare branch of the Netherlands armed forces

The Royal Netherlands Air Force, is the military aviation branch of the Netherlands Armed Forces. It was created in 1953; its ancestor, the Luchtvaartafdeling of the Dutch Army was founded in 1913. The aerobatic display team of the Royal Netherlands Air Force was the Solo Display Team.

Paya Lebar Air Base Military airbase in Singapore

Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) located at Airport Road in Paya Lebar, in the central-eastern part of Singapore. The airbase goes by the motto of Strength Through Readiness.

Tengah Air Base Military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force

Tengah Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located in the Western Water Catchment, in the western part of Singapore. The station is the most important airfield of the RSAF as it houses the majority of the RSAF's fixed-wing frontline squadrons, home to all of RSAF's Airborne early warning and control (AEWC) assets, most of the F-16C/D Fighting Falcons and many UAVs. The airfield goes by the motto of Always Vigilant, which is supported by its main motif, a black knight chess piece symbolising the aircraft's operational readiness in Tengah. The sword represents war's heraldic sword of destruction, while the state is depicted by the castle.

No. 43 Squadron RAF Defunct flying squadron of the Royal Air Force

Number 43 Squadron, nicknamed the Fighting Cocks, was a Royal Air Force aircraft squadron originally formed in April 1916 as part of the Royal Flying Corps. It saw distinguished service during two world wars, producing numerous "aces". The squadron last operated the Panavia Tornado F3 from RAF Leuchars, Scotland, in the air defence role, until it was disbanded in July 2009.

Sembawang Air Base Military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force

Sembawang Air Base is a military airbase of the Republic of Singapore Air Force located at Sembawang, in the northern part of Singapore. The base motto is Dare and Will.

Changi Air Base (East)

Changi Air Base (East), or Changi East Complex is a facility extending the facilities of Changi Air Base, the existing facilities hence renamed Changi Air Base (West). Built on a 2 square kilometre site of reclaimed land, the new base was located approximately 2 kilometres east of Singapore Changi Airport and approximately 1.5 kilometres west of Changi Naval Base. Groundbreaking took place on 15 July 2002 and it was officially opened on 29 November 2004. A new runway (02R/20L) was built and the length was approximately 2,748 metres (9,015 ft), it has since been lengthened to 4,000 metres.

143 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force Military unit

The 143 Squadron "Phoenix" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force currently operates twelve F-16 Fighting Falcon Block 52. Based in Tengah Airbase, the squadron's motto is "We Dare".

145 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force Military unit

The 145 Squadron "Hornet" is a strike fighter squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force based currently at Changi Airbase (East) which is a new airbase, opened in 2004, to the east of Singapore Changi Airport on reclaimed land. With the hornet as its mascot, the squadron's motto is "Swift & Valiant".

RMAF Butterworth Air Base

RMAF Butterworth is an active Air Force Station of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) situated 4.5 nautical miles from Butterworth in Penang, Malaysia. It is currently home to the Headquarters Integrated Area Defence System (HQIADS), part of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA).

ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk

The ST Aerospace A-4SU Super Skyhawk is a major upgrade project of the Douglas A-4S Skyhawk attack aircraft undertaken by Singapore Aircraft Industries in the 1980s. It was used exclusively by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), serving in the fighter-bomber role from 1989 until retirement from front line service in 2005. Since mid-1999, the A-4SU took on the additional role of being the designated advanced jet trainer (AJT) aircraft for the RSAF's AJT training program/detachment in Cazaux, France.

111 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force Singapore Air Force squadron

The 111 Squadron "Jaeger" was formed when the Republic of Singapore Air Force acquired four Grumman E-2C Hawkeye Airborne Early Warning aircraft in 1987. Based at Tengah Air Base, its primary function is to perform airborne surveillance and early warning. Other functions include Aircraft Intercept Control, Surface Surveillance, Search and Rescue and Air Traffic Control.

RSAF Black Knights Military unit

The Black Knights is the official aerobatics team of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) featuring six F-16C Fighting Falcons in formation flight. The Black Knights' emblem is sported on the red vertical tail of each of the team's aircraft and the team's name is emblazoned on both sides of the aircraft which are painted in red and white – the national colours of Singapore.

425th Fighter Squadron Military unit

The 425th Fighter Squadron is part of the 56th Operations Group at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. It operates the General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft conducting advanced fighter training for Republic of Singapore Air Force F-16 pilots.

428th Fighter Squadron Military unit

The 428th Fighter Squadron is part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho. Currently, it operates F-15SG Strike Eagle aircraft conducting formal training missions to qualify Republic of Singapore Air Force crew in the F-15SG in a program titled Peace Carvin V.

149 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force Military unit

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.

Muhammad Mahmood Alam Pakistani military leader

Air Commodore Muhammad Mahmood AlamSJ was a Pakistani fighter pilot who was officially credited by the Pakistan Air Force with having downed five Indian Air Force aircraft in 1 minute during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, all five aircraft are Hawker Hunter aircraft on one sortie on 7 September 1965. However, several experts including retired PAF Air Commodore Sajad S. Haider have discredited Alam's claim regarding the sortie on 7 September 1965. He was a F-86 Sabre flying ace as per Pakistan Air Force records. He was awarded the Sitara-e-Jurat, the nation's third highest military award and Bar for his actions during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965.

The 142 Squadron "Gryphon" of the Republic of Singapore Air Force is a fighter-bomber squadron based at Paya Lebar Air Base, the squadron goes by the motto "Honour and Glory" with the Gryphon adopted as its mascot. According to IHS Janes, it is the second Singapore-based F-15SG Squadron.

References

  1. "F-16 Units - RSAF 140th squadron".
  2. "File Not Found".