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Aviation History
2000
2000 - 0382.PDF
AEROSPACE 2000 Space restrictions mean that some A-4 Skybawks are based at Cazaux in France... ... while CH-47 Chinooks are based at Grand Prairie in Texas the US Joint Strike Fighter programme. As the 30-year-old air force matures, it is playing a bigger role in international out-of- area operations, be they disaster relief or peace keeping. "We want to be self-sufficient and independent, but we also want to be responsible members of the international community, with in the constraints of our resources," says Bey. So far, RSAF participation has been relative ly low key, but its role is expanding. Four RSAF Super Pumas took part in a 1993 United Nations peacekeeping mission to Cambodia, and the air force has played its part in the UN Iraq-Kuwait Observer Mission, as well as in the recent International Force for East Timor operation. It has also participated in missions to Afghanistan and Angola. Apart from its efforts at establishing bilateral relations, the only multilateral defence organi sation in which Singapore is involved is the Five Powers Defence Arrangement (FPDA), which comprises Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK. This organisation, established in 1971 after the UK Royal Air Force's withdrawal from the one-time British colony, offers loose mutual security commit ments without being a binding agreement. "It's a consultative arrangement," says Bey. "We get together and discuss security issues... [and] it allows us to exercise together." There are various annual exercises carried out under FPDA auspices. The arrangement has experienced highs and lows, with one low point being Malaysia's temporary withdrawal from exercises in late 1998, related to disputes with Singapore. It was coaxed back into participating last year. Bey believes the FPDA's lack of a binding mutual defence guarantee is "its advantage", making it more flexible and fitting in with Singapore's concept of individual bilateral arrangements combined with one multilateral arrangement without leading to conflicts. It does mean, however, that Singapore has to face the possibility, however unlikely, of standing alone in the event of hostilities. Bey harks back to the Japanese rout of Singapore's overconfident British defenders in the Second World War, and the island's subse quent occupation. "World War II was a nasty experience, and we are very focused [on the fact] that we are the only ones who can defend our nation," says Bey. INTERNATIONAL BENEFITS This makes it all the more important to reap the benefits of good international relations. The RSAF's latest efforts towards this are focused on its plans to host the Millennium Air Power Conference (MAPC) on 21 February, as part of Asian Aerospace 2000. The RSAF expects over 600 participants in the MAPC, including air force chiefs and defence industry leaders. Speakers will include the chiefs of the air forces of Australia, Chile, China, France, Indonesia, Israel, Singapore and the US Pacific Air Forces. Bey says the event's benefits will be height ened by its apolitical environment. "Such forums provide a platform for professionals to get together without touching on sensitivities," he says. "One issue in which everybody is probably interested is this: given the pressure on defence budgets, how can we do business more effec tively? One possible way is perhaps to think about having common trainers which we all can use - one international training school," says Bey. He says the RSAF is at the early stages of thinkingaboutthis, and thatsuch a school could be established as a purely commercial venture, unconnected with any defence pact. It is perhaps symptomatic of how the role of armed forces has changed over the last century that such an idea is even considered, or that air forces from countries often politically at odds would think of sharing their thoughts on the development of air warfare. Yet Bey believes that there must be some transparency among armed forces, because "if you do not reveal anything, you do not have deterrence". He adds that another point in favour of mutual assistance among armed forces is die maintenance of regional stability. "We must responsibly build our own defence capability to help ourselves, and then contribute to regional resilience," the defence force chief says. "For regional resilience, we do not want anybody to be weak." • I "We must build our own defence capability to help ourselves, and then contribute to regional resilience. For regional resilience, we do not want anybody to be weak." - Gen Bey Soo Khiang © FLIGHT INTERNATIONAL 15 - 21 February 2000
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