Singapore Airshow 2014

Singapore Airshow 2014 attracted close to 100,000 visitors over the public day weekend on 15 and 16 February. In addition to the 80,000 public day tickets that were completely sold out, the Airshow also welcomed guests for the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s 45^th anniversary celebrations at Singapore Airshow, exhibiting personnel, student groups and concession ticket holders over the two days.

Visitors to the Airshow were treated to an impressive line-up of public day activities, including the highly-anticipated flying display, featuring the largest number of aerobatic teams in the history of Singapore Airshow. The line-up included awe-inspiring team aerobatics performances by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Black Knights, the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) Black Eagles and the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) The Jupiters.  There were also solo aerobatic performances by the U.S. Air Force, the U.S. Marine Corps and the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The RSAF pavilion, part of the RSAF’s efforts to celebrate its 45^th anniversary with the public at Singapore Airshow 2014, was also a major highlight of the public days.

The new public day arrangements introduced this year by show organisers, where visitors go through security clearance at Singapore Expo before boarding the shuttle bus to Changi Exhibition Centre, were well-received. In particular, the objective of getting visitors into the show swiftly and safely during the peak period in the morning before the flying display was achieved.

Over the six-day show from 11-16 February, Singapore Airshow 2014 welcomed some 146,000 visitors in total. Visitorship over the four trade days from 11-14 February stood at almost 46,000 visitors from 129 countries/regions, with 31% coming from overseas. Singapore Airshow 2014 also played host to 279 delegations from 72 countries.

Enjoy the photos!

RSAF F-15SG

JSF were present. Only the mock-up though.

Osprey during a flying display.

Malaysian EC725 were present throughout the show.

C295 after a 40-hour journey from Portugal.

Back to the static display area after the flying display.

Globemaster right after touchdown. Being towed into the static display area.

SAS14 caters mostly for commercial aviation with a considerably large proportion for defence sector.

Happy crew after a tiring day.

Writer having a taste of Apache's cockpit.

Chinook's arse was opened to public.

Crew on standby.

ROKAF Black Eagles during an aerobatic display. 

Gripen Heads to Brazil - Who's Next?

Brazil's sudden decision a month ago to pick the Saab Gripen ahead of American and French contenders is the first arrangement of its size that has been carried out without accounting superpowers or United Nations Security Council. 

The arrangement has expanded the much awaited access for South African defence and other defence industry players, especially among BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa). 

With the Gripen in Brazil, the entire BRICS pact has become additionally exciting.

A US defence investigator says, despite the fact that the NSA outrage — the US' eavesdropping on Brazil's president Dilma Rousseff — proved to be useful as a "method of reasoning for criticising the US" and encouraged the selection of the Gripen rather than the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, it was not the primary driver. 

It is said that the behavioural change was that Brazil settled on a sensible decision and at last ran with what the Brazilian armed forces had said for a considerable length of time it needed and required: the Gripen, the cheapest option.

The latest addition into Gripen’s potential buyer is Indonesia and there is even talk that India is eyeing onto the Gripen, due to negotiation halt on the purchase of Dassault Rafale.

French based Dassault was said as not wanting to bear any responsibility for locally assembled Rafale, amounting to 108 out of the total possible orders, 126. The situation has given some space for BRICS to play its role in placing Saab’s Sea Gripen as a stronger contender for both Brazil and India, according to a source.

Analysts are optimistic that the Brazil-Gripen purchase will be Sweden’s largest export contract so far. Therefore, observing the situation in a larger picture, it can be said that superpowers are no longer able to influence international arms deal and BRICS, despite news on its downfall, is gaining powers and influence, possibly affecting global defence course in the next years to come.

Simulators to Replace Lost Flying Hours

Current economy downturn and the recent US government shut down have resulted in budget cuts by the government, resulting in severe squeeze of funding for the armed forces to sustain its operations all over the world. The US Air Force for example, has to absorb the impact by reducing 10% of its operational fleet size thus resulting in the possibility of pilots’ skill-lost and to overcome this issue; they have beefed up its frequency of simulator training for pilots. The US Department of Defense is exploring the increased use of flight-simulation technology to cut back on fuel costs and minimise the wear and tear on its aircraft fleet.

Latest technology sees flight simulators as having higher fidelity, not only capable of replicating procedural training, but also for weapons employment. Latest flight simulators are often developed on the same software platform as the actual aircraft. Everything found in the simulator is supposed to match the real aircraft. While visual presentation has been a major limitation for flight simulators, the integration of newer hardware and software has enabled simulator pilots to identify different targets, different classes of armoured vehicle for example.

However, even the latest simulator does not move, and not capable to imitate certain factors with 100% accuracy. Simulators lack in the physiological effects on human body and therefore, pilots are unable to undergo certain aspects of training including g-loading and physical exhaustion due to long hours of flight. It is impossible to allow pilots to experience the sound, smell and fear of flying or even fear of death in a simulator.

Keeping Pilots Airborne

Though simulators are not able to duplicate certain aspects of flying, they are still very effective for tactical training. In a small unit, pilots are allowed to rehearse some maneuvers in tactical scenarios before flying in a real situation. One example is the use of night vision goggles and Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCSs), which enables digital debriefing for pilots.

The system offers a three-dimensional display and a full reproduction of all four cockpits and their displays. The US Navy adapts this system with the requirement to link all their units from all over the world in a scheme called fleet synthetic training. The system adapted by the US Navy links not only aircraft, but also their warships such as the Ticonderoga-class and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The adaptation resulted in the introduction of simulated exercise call Virtual Flag.

In September last year, 125 participants from the US, UK, Canada and Australia worked together during the Coalition Virtual Flag 13-4 held through September 11 to September 19. The annual virtual exercise’s objective is to train US soldiers and allied partners to execute operations including finding, fixing, targeting, engaging and assessing on a geographically modified battlefield.

Coalition Virtual Flag is an exercise held annually, led by the 705th Combat Training Squadron. The unit, known as the Distributed Mission Operations Center (DMOC), provides the link to the Air Force that enables usage of virtual simulators to connect participants in a simulated conflict. With the use of simulators, the exercise has become one of the most financially effective efforts, omitting the necessity to move aircraft and manpower to a single location.