Plans to deploy up to 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG fighter jets to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, have been cancelled, Singapore’s Ministry of Defence announced.
The US and Singapore agreed to drop the proposal, with Washington referencing its environmental impact review and Singapore noting adjustments to its training requirements. The detachment was to be operational by 2029, following a December 2023 proposal under a 2019 defence memorandum.
Short-term training in Guam will continue, including a planned exercise later this year from October to November.
Infrastructure Changes at Andersen AFB
According to a July “Record of Decision” by the US Department of the Air Force, while the RSAF F-15 beddown and munitions storage expansion will not proceed, construction will continue on the northwest side of Andersen’s runway.
The project involves adding 20 acres of airfield pavement, fuel pipelines, and roadways for expanded aircraft parking, servicing, refueling, and loading operations.
Singapore’s Global Training Network
Given its small land area, Singapore maintains several overseas training detachments, including F-16s at Luke AFB in Arizona, F-15s at Mountain Home AFB in Idaho, and AH-64s at Silverbell Army Heliport in Arizona.
If approved, the Guam site would have been Singapore’s fourth US-based detachment and its closest to home. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for the RSAF’s F-35 training unit at Ebbing Air National Guard Base in Arkansas. Additional training detachments are located in Australia and France.
