Singapore, as you like to tell your friends who constantly complain about the weather, is safe.
We’ve never had any major conflicts with other countries, we’ve never experienced any natural disasters, and most people here don’t politicise mask-wearing.
But past events, or the lack thereof, is not indicative of the future. Anything can happen and we need to be prepared for the worst.
Yesterday, one potential security threat was identified.
RSAF Scrambled F-16 Fighter Jets After RMP Allegedly Flew Over Pulau Tekong
Yesterday morning at around 9:20am, a Royal Malaysia Police helicopter is believed to have flown over Pulau Tekong.
As you know, Pulau Tekong is where young army recruits go to undergo their Basic Military Training, and is home to the Singapore Armed Forces.
Viewed as a potential air threat, F-16 fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) were scrambled.
The authorities later determined that the country’s security was not compromised, and stood down the aircraft.
The Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) later issued a statement on Facebook, saying it was aware of messages claiming that an RMP helicopter had breached Singapore airspace.
“RMP confirms there was an RMP helicopter flight in airspace close to Singapore on the date, for official duties,” it said.
It added that the RMP was not informed by the Singapore aviation authorities that the RMP helicopter had entered Singapore airspace.
Investigates Around 350 Air Threats Every Year
According to the Ministry of Defence, RSAF fighter aircraft are deployed to investigate an average of 350 potential air threats each year.
A similar incident occurred in Feb this year when fighter aircraft were scrambled in response to another “potential air threat”.
The threat didn’t compromise our security, and the aircraft was stood down. RSAF nevertheless thanked its crew for keeping our skies safe.
“Our airmen and women stand ready to defend our skies 24/7, so that we can celebrate the festivities and enjoy the holidays with our loved ones,” it said.
“A big thank you to our crew who are ever ready to defend our skies. Salute!”
What is Scrambling?
It’s nice to know that Singapore’s skies are safe, but what exactly did these fighter planes do?
While scrambling sounds like panicking pilots whizzing around aimlessly in the sky, it’s actually a military term with origins dating back to the Battle of Britain in 1940.
Simply put, scrambling is the act of quickly mobilising military aircraft. Scrambling can be in reaction to an immediate threat, usually to intercept hostile aircraft.
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Featured Image: Facebook (The Republic of Singapore Air Force)
Here’s a simplified summary of the South Korea martial law that even a 5-year-old would understand:
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