Plans for a Singaporean fighter jet training presence in the US territory of Guam have been shelved, both governments have confirmed, despite years of preparation and investment in upgrading the US Air Force base on the Pacific island.
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Singapore and the United States had agreed to “discontinue discussions” on deploying 12 Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15 fighter jets to Guam, the city state’s defence ministry announced on Tuesday.
This followed an earlier statement from the US Air Force that it would not proceed with hosting the 12 F-15 aircraft at Andersen Air Force Base, even after completing an environmental review and – according to media in Guam – the commencement of major construction to expand the base by about 209 acres (85 hectares).
Infrastructure upgrades at the base will continue, but the US will not “implement or carry forward the beddown” of the 12 aircraft “nor associated aircraft airfield operations to include temporary support aircraft, and RSAF personnel or their families”, according to a record of the decision dated July 16 and signed by Michael E. Saunders, acting assistant secretary of the US Air Force.
Responding to queries from This Week in Asia, Singapore’s Defence Ministry said that both countries had “mutually agreed to discontinue discussions on a RSAF fighter training detachment in Guam” following a review of the air force’s training needs.
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The ministry added that the RSAF would continue to conduct periodic short-term training and exercises in Guam, including a coming fighter training detachment scheduled from October to November.