The Hindu : New Delhi News : Singapore signs pact for use of Indian defence facilities

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Oct 11, 2007
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New Delhi

New Delhi

Singapore signs pact for use of Indian defence facilities

Sandeep Dikshit

Regional security aspects, both from Indian and Singaporean perspectives, discussed
IAF will be able to take a close look at the ultramodern Singapore Air Force

NEW DELHI: Singapore has signed a unique pact with India that will allow the tiny island nation to use Indian military facilities on payment basis for five years.

The agreement on a long-term arrangement for conducting joint training and exercises between the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) was signed by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Singapore’s Permanent Secretary of Defence Chiang Chie Foo at the two-day India-Singapore defence policy dialogue that began here on Tuesday.

During the dialogue, both sides gave an update on defence relations and expressed the need to intensify cooperation. Sub-groups reported progress made in respective fields including research and development.

Regional security

The regional security aspects, both from Indian and Singaporean perspectives, were discussed.

For the two air forces, the Kalaikunda base will be the hub of operations.

This IAF base in West Bengal was developed recently to serve as the second staging post after Gwalior for conducting exercises with foreign air forces.

Equipped with modern facilities, the base is located in a congestion-free air environment that allows exercises to be held at the convenience of the air forces.

By inking the pact with Singapore, IAF will be able to take a close look at the ultra modern RSAF as well as its F-16 fighters that are also used by Pakistan.

Arrangement

For Singapore, which is strapped for space, this is not a unique arrangement.

It already has similar pacts with the United States, Australia, Taiwan and New Zealand. RSAF has practised in India twice earlier while IAF fighters have gone over to Singapore once.

The engagements are set to intensify with the signing of the pact, say official sources.

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