Singapore cancels plan to station F-15 fighters in New Zealand for training

One of the RSAF's F-15SG Strike Eagle fighter aircraft stationed in the US mainland.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed on 7 January 2019 that the proposal to conduct fighter aircraft training for the country’s F-15 fleet in New Zealand would not push through. This was after they concluded that the cost involved for such plan would be prohibitively expensive for the Singaporean government.

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) operates a decent number of Boeing F-15SG Strike Eagles that form their long-range air combat capability.

Being a small country, Singapore needed space for its air force to effectively train in air combat operations. New Zealand was among those eyed, as the New Zealand government was also supportive of allowing Singaporean forces to be stationed in their country in a long-term basis.

New Zealand’s Ohakea Air Base was eyed for the deployment. Currently, the RSAF’s F-15 training group are station in the US Air Force Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Despite the cancelled plan, both Singapore and New Zealand are open on looking for other opportunities on defense cooperation. Both countries are signatories of the Five Power Agreement, together with the UK, Australia, and Malaysia.



[1] Channel NewsAsia
[2} Straits Times