RSAF Transfers First Batch of Trainer Aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force 05 Jul 2002 The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) officially transferred six SIAI- Marchetti SF- 260 trainer aircraft to the Indonesian Air Force (TNI-AU) in a ceremony held at Halim Air Base, Jakarta, this morning. The Chief of Air Force, Major-General Lim Kim Choon and the Chief of Staff of the TNI-AU, Air Chief Marshal Chappy Hakim officiated at the ceremony where they signed the certificate for the transfer of the aircraft. The RSAF plans to transfer nineteen SF-260 aircraft in all. The remaining thirteen planes will be delivered to Indonesia by the end of the year. The two air forces, which enjoy close and long-standing ties, have been working closely together on the delivery of the aircraft after the TNI-AU accepted the SAF’s offer of its decommissioned fleet last year. This includes the effort to restore all nineteen aircraft to airworthy and good flyable condition. The RSAF also provided training for six TNI-AU pilots and ten maintenance personnel before the transfer of the first batch of aircraft. Training will also be provided for another ten TNI-AU maintenance personnel before the transfer of the final batch of aircraft. As part of the transfer, the RSAF has delivered the related ground tools and spares required for the operation and maintenance of the SF-260 fleet to the TNI- AU. The Italian-made SF-260 was first introduced into the RSAF in September 1971 to provide basic training for RSAF pilot trainees, and subsequently, also to train RSAF flying instructors. The two-seater, single-propeller aircraft was later used for air grading to select potential recruits for RSAF pilots. The fleet was eventually decommissioned in November 1999 after the RSAF shifted its air pilot training programme to Australia and switched to a different type of trainer aircraft there. The transfer of the SF-260 aircraft reflects the excellent relations between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI). The two militaries 1 enjoy close defence links at many levels, and train together regularly in exercises such as SAFKAR INDOPURA, EAGLE and ELANG INDOPURA. The SAF and TNI also co- operate closely in other bilateral initiatives, including the development of an Air Weapons Range in Siabu and the Air Combat Manoeuvring Range in Pekan Baru. Fact Sheets: - SIAI-Marchetti SF-260 Specifications (Document No: MINDEF_20020705003.pdf) 2 .