Eielson F-16s in Singapore for Commando Sling

By Erik Holmes - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 12, 2007 12:03:53 EST

Six F-16C/D Fighting Falcons from the 354th Fighter Wing at Eielson Air
Force Base, Alaska, are in Singapore to participate in the second Commando
Sling exercise, 13th Air Force announced Thursday.

The exercise began Monday and runs through Jan. 26.
An annual series of exercises since 1990, Commando Sling provides combined air combat training for U.S. Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force fighter units.

U.S. Air Force F-15C/D Eagles from the 3rd Wing at Elmendorf Air Force Base,
Alaska, participated in the first Commando Sling exercise for fiscal year
2007 from Oct. 16 to Nov. 3, 2006. U.S. Air Force F-16s from the 8th Fighter
Wing at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, will participate in the third exercise
scheduled for May.

The fourth and final iteration for 2007 is scheduled in July and will
include F/A-18 Hornets from the U.S. Marine Corps Aircraft Group 12 at
Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan.

The U.S. and Singapore militaries have close ties, and a squadron of
Singapore Air Force F-15SG fighter jets and their flight and maintenance
crews may be assigned to Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, for as many as 20 years beginning this spring or summer.

Singapore, at 267 square miles, is one of the smallest nations in the world.
It is also one of the most economically advanced and wealthiest nations in
Asia.

It operates about 60 fighter jets and has been mentioned as a possible buyer of the Global Hawk surveillance drone.