Military unit
The 145 Squadron "Hornet" is a strike fighter squadron of the Republic of Singapore Air Force based currently at Changi Airbase (East) which is a new airbase, opened in 2004, to the east of Singapore Changi Airport on reclaimed land. With the hornet as its mascot, the squadron's motto is "Swift & Valiant".
History
First formed on 1 April 1984 at Tengah Air Base, the founding CO was Capt Chir C. P " Hawkeye ", the squadron flew the A-4S Skyhawk and later, the locally upgraded A-4SU Super Skyhawk, along with her sister squadron, the 142 Squadron. When the A-4SU was retired from active combat service, however, 142 Squadron was disbanded, while the 145 Squadron was retained to operate the newly upgraded F-16Ds from the new air base, an unsurprising decision considering the fact that the 145 Squadron had emerged as the best fighter squadron for five consecutive years since the year 2000 in the annual Singapore Armed Forces Best Unit Competition.[1]
New role
The twenty aircraft of the squadron are upgraded versions of the F-16D Block 52, hence known as the Block 52+ or F-16D+, are equipped with state-of-the-art Conformal Fuel Tanks, an enhanced radar with greater detection range and improved mapping capabilities, and an improved targeting pod, this enables the squadron to conduct precision day and night operations at a greater combat range and duration. This made it a unique squadron within the RSAF as all its aircraft are tandem seaters and every mission is flown with a Pilot and Weapon System Officer (WSO), until the arrival of the F-15SG Eagles with 142 and 149 Squadrons.
Achievements
The squadron clinched the Best Fighter Squadron award in the following years: 1998, 2000, 2012 and 2014.
