The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has moved a squadron of 12 Eurocopter AS332L Super Puma transport helicopters to the Australian Army Aviation air base at Oakey, Queensland, under an overseas basing agreement with Canberra.
Under the 15-year basing agreement, signed with Australia in October 1996, Singapore has invested some A$20 million ($11.5 million) in new base facilities at Oakey. It will spend a further A$30 million with Bristow Helicopter Australia to support the Super Pumas over the next three years. The RSAF's other 20 Super Pumas will remain in Singapore at the Sembawang air base.
The RSAF already maintains a flying training school of 30 Siai-Marchetti S211 jets at Pearce air base in Western Australia, as well as Lockheed Martin F-16C/D fighter and Boeing CH-47 Chinook helicopter detachments in the USA. The service recently deployed a squadron of 20 Boeing A/TA-4SUs to France for two years, although it is believed to be finding it expensive to support the aircraft there.
Access to overseas bases for training is expected to form a critical consideration in the RSAF's forthcoming selection of a new attack helicopter.
The US Army is believed to have offered to support an RSAF purchase of the Boeing AH-64D Apache, while the French military has offered a similar provision in conjunction with the rival Eurocopter Tiger.
Source: Flight International
