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St Louis, MISSOURI: Aircraft manufacturer Boeing said on Tuesday the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) F-15 SG programme is on schedule.
Singapore placed an order for 24 F-15 SGs with the first delivery targeted for the second quarter of 2009.
It is nicknamed SG-1, and it is Singapore's most advanced fighter aircraft.
Singapore's air force chief, Major-General Ng Chee Khern, who witnessed the official roll out, said the F-15 SGs will add a new dimension to the air force's integration with the Singapore Armed Forces' third generation transformation.
The Major-General said: "The arrival of the F-15 SG marks a watershed development in the transformation of the RSAF. As the mainstay of our next generation multi-role fighter aircraft, the F-15 SG will enhance our air defence, air superiority and strike capabilities."
Among the cutting edge technology on the new plane is an advanced radar system that tracks multiple aerial threats. Underneath the fighter, there are targeting, navigation and infra-red tracking pods.
The aircraft, which has a combat radius of 1,800 kilometres, can also carry a payload of more than 10,000 kilogrammes.
The new fighter jet first flew on September 16 this year.
18 other F-15 SGs are currently at different stages of production at the St. Louis Boeing factory.
At the official rollout ceremony, the US ambassador to Singapore, Patricia Herbold, said the latest RSAF acquisition underscores the close relationship between both countries.
"Our relationship is based on common interests, substantial trade and investment ties, shared strategic perspectives and continuing efforts to expand mutually beneficial cooperation," she said.
"The F-15 SG programme is yet another important step forward in our outstanding partnership with Singapore," she added.
The SG-1 is among at least four F-15 SGs that Boeing hopes to deliver to the RSAF by May next year.
The fighter jets will be based at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho state, where a RSAF detachment will train and maintain the F-15 SGs. The RSAF expects to fly the F-15 SGs to Singapore earliest by 2010.
The latest fighter jet is an all-weather multi-role fighter that is able to carry a large payload of weapons and fuel, giving it increased firepower and combat endurance.
Pilots of the F-15 SG have more control as it comes with the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) that not only offers essential data to the pilot but also the ability to direct weapons by simply pointing his head at the target.
Built with a Infra-Red Search and Track (IRST) System, the new jet is able to remain undetectable while being able to engage weapons without the need to operate a radar.
The fighter plane built by Boeing is packed with a 20mm cannon, laser-guided bombs and air-to-ground as well as air-to-air missiles that can be delivered with precision.
Equipped with the Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar, the F-15 SG is able to spot and engage a number of targets before the jet is detected while navigating at low altitudes at night and under varying weather conditions.
- CNA/yb/sf
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