It is anticipated the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will temporarily base a modest fleet of McDonnell Douglas F-15SG Strike Eagle fighter jets, Aerospatiale AS.332M Super Puma, Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow and Boeing CH-47SD Chinook helicopters at Rockhampton Airport for 'Exercise Wallaby 2016'.
In this post, we take a quick look at the Apache Longbow attack helicopter.
Partially stripped for transportation, the Apache helicopters ferried to Rockhampton were flown from Paya Lebar Air Base, Singapore aboard three separate flights by Antonov Airlines (Antonov Design Bureau) An-124-100 UR-82073 in early September.
Once unloaded at Rockhampton, the Apache choppers are reassembled and test flown before being cleared to participate in the nearly two month long Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) military exercise during which time they will regularly fly between the beef capital and Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA).
Operated by 120th Squadron at Sembawang Air Base, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) currently maintains a modest fleet of 20 Apache helicopters (among other types of military choppers) with their primary role being 'Anti-Armour and Ground Support'. Armament include AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, Hydra 70 rockets and a single 30mm M320 chain gun.
Over the years, the Apache has been built by a number of manufactuers :
Hughes Helicopters (1975 to 1984)
McDonnell Douglas (1984 to 1997)
Boeing Defense, Space and Security (1997 to present)
and under license in the United Kingdom (UK) as the AgustaWestland Apache.
File photo's - 'Exercise Wallaby 2015'.
