SINGAPORE - The Republic's response to potential air threats was demonstrated on Monday (Nov 28), in a multi-agency exercise codenamed Vigilant Shield.

A total of 400 participants, hailing from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), the Singapore Police Force, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore and the Changi Airport Group took part in the exercise.

The exercise simulated airspace incursions from two different types of "threats" - a commercial airliner which was suspected of being hijacked, and a light aircraft that was stolen from a regional airport.

During the operation, the RSAF deployed assets such as the F-15SG fighter aircraft and AH-64D Apache helicopters, along with ground based air defence systems such as the I-Hawk, Spyder and RBS-70.

Chief of Air Force Major-General Mervyn Tan said: "The successful conduct of this exercise demonstrated the RSAF's robust networked air defence system and our tight inter-agency linkages with our partners."

"The RSAF will continue to strengthen our ability to defend and safeguard the sovereignty of Singapore's airspace," he added.