Andersen AFB in Guam to host Singapore’s F-15 Fleet

UNITED STATES: The Andersen Air Force Base in Guam, under the jurisdiction of the U.S., is reportedly preparing to accommodate half of Singapore’s F-15 fleet as part of the city-state’s efforts to enhance its combat readiness.

As reported by online news outlet the Defense News, this decision aligns with a U.S. Air Force modernization plan aimed at concentrating air warfare capabilities at the remote Andersen AFB, situated at the edge of the Philippine Sea.

According to a spokesperson for the U.S. Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Andersen AFB is strategically positioned for projecting airpower in the Indo-Pacific region, and the intention is to allocate more resources to this location.

The proposed action aims to provide crucial infrastructure to strengthen the U.S. posture west of the International Date Line.

The upgrades related to Singapore involve hosting and supporting up to 12 F-15SG aircraft, a variant of Boeing’s F-15 Strike Eagle.

Plans also include the provision of training facilities for pilots.

PACAF in the statement said the U.S. air service “reviewed requirements for strategic capabilities within the Indo-Pacific region and identified Andersen AFB for enhanced capabilities, dismissing five other potential alternative locations within the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility from consideration.”

These changes, outlined in a December statement from the U.S. Air Force, will expand airfield and munitions infrastructure to address capability gaps and improve ground operations.

The construction is expected to impact 209 acres and unfold over three to seven years. The initiation date for the project is currently undetermined.

In December last year, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) announced its plan to establish its fourth detachment on U.S. soil, stationing up to twelve F-15SG fighter jets at Andersen Air Force Base.

The move comes as part of an ongoing collaboration between Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the U.S. Department of Defense, aiming to bolster RSAF’s operational capabilities and strengthen military ties.

This initiative builds upon a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed in 2019, outlining the framework for the Guam detachment, facilitating quick redeployment and asset recall to Singapore when necessary.

Guam: Key hub for overhauling American heavy bombers in the Western Pacific

The Guam installation, one of the ten bases under PACAF’s authority, stands as the sole facility in the western Pacific with the continuous capability to overhaul American heavy bombers.

The U.S. Air Force likely chose Guam for this endeavour due to its expansive airspace and strategic importance, particularly in the context of potential military actions by North Korea.

Additionally, Guam’s proximity to the Farallon de Medinilla, an uninhabited island used as a training bombing range from Andersen, further enhances its suitability.

Since the 1990s, the Singapore Armed Forces has been conducting training in Guam, and RSAF has previously deployed fighter aircraft to Andersen Air Force Base for joint training exercises with the U.S. Pacific Air Force.

Currently, RSAF has two other fighter detachments in the U.S., one at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona and the other at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho.

Additionally, RSAF maintains overseas training detachments in Australia and France.