121 Squadron, Republic of Singapore Air Force
Encyclopedia
The 121 Squadron "Brahminy Kite" ("Gannet" before 1994) of the Republic of Singapore Air Force
(RSAF) currently operates the Fokker F-50
Utility Aircraft (UTA) and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) based at Changi Airbase (West)
. The squadron goes by the motto of "Seek and Destroy" and the mascot is the Brahminy Kite.
into the service of SADC. In 1993, the squadron found a new chapter to their successful career when they began operating the Fokker F-50 MPA and UTL. With this move, the squadron's mascot was changed from the Gannet
to the Brahminy Kite
, which is also reflected as the current centerpiece of the squadron's crest. As of September 2008, the Squadron has maintain an impressive safety record of over 124,000 accident-free flying hours, spanning a period of 35 years since the squadron's inception.
and Republic of Singapore Navy
assets that are capable of operations in tandem for seeking out and destroying a naval surface or sub-surface target, they can be quickly re-armed with the Harpoon Anti-ship missiles
or EuroTorp A244/S ASW torpedoes
as and when they are required to.
The squadron covers a wide spectrum of operations round the clock. These include Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts such as Operations Flying Eagle in the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami in December 2004, regular patrols of Singapore
’s Sea Lines of Communication as well as participation in the Malacca Straits “Eyes-in-the-Sky” Joint Air Patrol with Indonesia
and Malaysia.
) for the fourth time in 2008; its past achievements being in 1997, 2002 and 2003.
Republic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
(RSAF) currently operates the Fokker F-50
Fokker F50
The Fokker 50 is a turboprop-powered airliner, designed as a refinement of and successor to the highly successful Fokker F27 Friendship. The Fokker 60 is a stretched freighter version of the Fokker 50. Both aircraft were built by Fokker in the Netherlands...
Utility Aircraft (UTA) and Maritime Patrol Aircraft (MPA) based at Changi Airbase (West)
Changi Airbase (West)
The Changi Air Base , or Changi West Complex is a military airbase located in Changi to the eastern tip of Singapore, in reference to the existing facilities of Changi Air Base. It was named as such on 29 November 2004 after the opening of a new eastern facility that same day...
. The squadron goes by the motto of "Seek and Destroy" and the mascot is the Brahminy Kite.
History
Set up in 1973 with the commissioning of the SH 7 SkyvanShort SC.7 Skyvan
-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Jackson, A.J. British Civil Aircraft since 1919 . London: Putnam, 1974. ISBN 0-370-10014-X.-External links:****...
into the service of SADC. In 1993, the squadron found a new chapter to their successful career when they began operating the Fokker F-50 MPA and UTL. With this move, the squadron's mascot was changed from the Gannet
Gannet
Gannets are seabirds comprising the genus Morus, in the family Sulidae, closely related to the boobies.The gannets are large black and white birds with yellow heads. They have long pointed wings and long bills. Northern gannets are the largest seabirds in the North Atlantic, with a wingspan of up...
to the Brahminy Kite
Brahminy Kite
The Brahminy Kite , also known as the Red-backed Sea-eagle, is a medium-sized bird of prey in the family Accipitridae, which also includes many other diurnal raptors such as eagles, buzzards and harriers. They are found in the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia and Australia...
, which is also reflected as the current centerpiece of the squadron's crest. As of September 2008, the Squadron has maintain an impressive safety record of over 124,000 accident-free flying hours, spanning a period of 35 years since the squadron's inception.
Roles and Missions
The primary role of the F-50's is to provide dedicated wide area maritime air surveillance for search and resource operations, aeromedical evacuations and the transportation of personnel. The 121Sqn is unique in the RSAF, it is the first RSAF squadron to be crewed by both RSAF and RSN personnels as the pilots are drawn from the RSAF while the equipment/system specialists are from the RSN. As such, the F-50 MPA is part of a MINDEF system that comprises both Republic of Singapore Air ForceRepublic of Singapore Air Force
The Republic of Singapore Air Force is the air arm of the Singapore Armed Forces. It was first established in 1968 as the Singapore Air Defence Command...
and Republic of Singapore Navy
Republic of Singapore Navy
The Republic of Singapore Navy is the naval component of the Singapore Armed Forces , responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is regarded as...
assets that are capable of operations in tandem for seeking out and destroying a naval surface or sub-surface target, they can be quickly re-armed with the Harpoon Anti-ship missiles
Boeing Harpoon
The Harpoon is an all-weather, over-the-horizon, anti-ship missile system, developed and manufactured by McDonnell Douglas . In 2004, Boeing delivered the 7,000th Harpoon unit since the weapon's introduction in 1977...
or EuroTorp A244/S ASW torpedoes
A244-S
The A244-s is a lightweight, fire-and-forget torpedo employed for anti-submarine warfare. They can be deployed from the surface or by aircraft, and locate the target by means of an acoustic seeker...
as and when they are required to.
The squadron covers a wide spectrum of operations round the clock. These include Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) efforts such as Operations Flying Eagle in the aftermath of the Asian Tsunami in December 2004, regular patrols of Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
’s Sea Lines of Communication as well as participation in the Malacca Straits “Eyes-in-the-Sky” Joint Air Patrol with Indonesia
Indonesia
Indonesia , officially the Republic of Indonesia , is a country in Southeast Asia and Oceania. Indonesia is an archipelago comprising approximately 13,000 islands. It has 33 provinces with over 238 million people, and is the world's fourth most populous country. Indonesia is a republic, with an...
and Malaysia.
SAF award
Also, the squadron has won the Best Tactical Support Squadron award (Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit CompetitionSingapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition
The Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition is an annual competition which confers awards of recognition to the most outstanding units of the Singapore Armed Forces in combat readiness, operational proficiency and administrative excellence...
) for the fourth time in 2008; its past achievements being in 1997, 2002 and 2003.
Aircraft operated
- 8 SH 7 Skyvan 3M (1973 - 1993)
- 9 Fokker F-50 MPA/UTL (1993 - present)