More eyes in the sky: SAF hones teamwork between pilots and drones in US exercise

MOUNTAIN HOME, Idaho – Calm and steady, that is how Captain Javier Tan feels in the cockpit, even when cloud cover completely blocks his fighter jet’s sensors more than 15,000 feet (4,500m) in the air.

For F-16 pilots like him, moments like this in less than ideal weather conditions or when moving targets go out of sight mean they have no clear view of the targets they are tasked to strike.

This is where unmanned aerial systems, or drones, become the pilots’ eyes on the ground.

“In every mission, we go out with the intent of trying to deliver bombs onto specific targets as demanded by the command post,” CPT Tan said.

“On days with bad weather, when we are airborne over the target area, we are unable to see the target through our sensors, and without the Heron 1 or other drones... we would most likely be unable to hit those targets.”

The smaller drones are able to pinpoint the location of moving targets when they go under shelter, he added.

CPT Tan’s experience is an example of how the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) integrates manned and unmanned platforms at

2025’s Exercise Forging Sabre

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Held from Sept 6 to 21 in Mountain Home, Idaho, the exercise is one of the SAF’s largest overseas drills.

“The partnership with the drones allows us traditional fighter jet fliers more thorough coverage of the battlefield,” he said, adding that the Heron 1 can remain airborne for a longer period of time, which compensates for the fighter jets’ inability to do so.

Manned platforms refer to assets operated by personnel – such as fighter aircraft and helicopters – while unmanned platforms are drones or unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that gather intelligence or conduct strikes remotely.

This tighter integration between manned and unmanned platforms is key to improving the SAF’s sense and strike capabilities – the ability to detect, track and take precise action quickly against its adversaries.

In a coordinated strike, the F-16 and F-15SG fighter jets, with support from the Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), work with the Heron 1 to engage multiple targets.

The MRTT is an aircraft that refuels fighter jets midair.

They operate alongside AH-64D Apache helicopters, which provide close air support, and smaller micro-drones – all coordinated through a common command network.

“Manned-unmanned integration is inevitable,” said Lieutenant-Colonel Lim Swee Ann, who heads the Concept of Operations and Tactics Centre under the Unmanned Aerial Systems Warfare and Tactics Centre.

“It allows us to have the best of both worlds,” he said.

“On the one hand, human judgment, firepower, reach; on the other, persistence, precision and survivability.”

Each asset brings specific capabilities to the fight, he added.

For example, the Heron 1 provides wide-area battlefield surveillance at high altitude, while the Apaches play a dual role in both sensing and striking.

Their on-board sensors can detect and track ground targets, while their weapons allow them to take out threats.

“If we could employ another network of sensors lower to the ground, networked to the aircraft which is conducting the strike, it gives us additional assurance, not just in terms of the operational effectiveness, but also in... (minimising) collateral damage during the strike itself,” LTC Lim said.

The real-world training during the exercise allows operators to practise coordinating strikes with a full suite of assets.

LTC Lim said the goal is to use these respective capabilities together and harness the strengths of each to achieve a common mission.

Captain Cheong Rong Hao, a Heron 1 pilot, noted that while the UAV has been in service since 2012, it continues to play a critical role.

“The Heron remains the ‘fighting teeth’ and the trial lead for many of our unmanned warfighting concepts,” he said, adding that the SAF has more platforms to tap in battle with the introduction of smaller drones.

Apache pilot Major Poh Ju Ren said the helicopter is capable of both day and night missions, and can provide a view of the battlefield at lower altitudes.

With the new drones involved in 2025, MAJ Poh said he feels more confident as he will be able to receive information faster with “more eyes” providing soldiers with information.

This in turn will allow him to strike more targets within a shorter duration, he said.

With the large airspace in Exercise Forging Sabre – 20 times the size of Singapore – pilots like him can take advantage of the space to train fully, and employ live weapons such as Hydra rockets and 30mm guns.

But even as the SAF enhances its capabilities to prepare for a more dynamic battlefield, LTC Lim said the challenge will be to keep pace with the fast-changing threat environment.

His team continues to develop new operational concepts for the SAF, particularly in the area of drone warfare.

LTC Lim said: “We will continue to work in these areas to ensure that we are agile and prepared for the very complex and fast-changing environment of tomorrow.”