After years of rumors about Singapore’s F-16 being equipped with the Israel-made missile, a RSAF F-16D+ was seen for the first time armed with Rafael’s Python-5 AAMs.
A F-16D+ attached to the RSAF’s (Republic of Singapore Air Force) 145 Squadron “Hornets” was seen flying with a pair of Python-5 AAM (Air to Air Missiles) for the first time. This follows years of rumors about Singapore’s F-16 being equipped with the Israel-made missile, with the official confirmation only arriving in 2023.
The photo that you see as the cover of this article was captured by local aviation photographer Terrence Chan, who kindly shared it with us. The jet, with the U.S. serial 01-6010 and local serial 661, took off from Tengah Air Base at around 07:50 on Jan. 20, 2025, and returned to base after an hour-long sortie at 09:04 the same day, Chan told us.
Almost like a dream come true seeing pictures of Python 5 AAMs hanging off a Singapore F-16D+ in recent days. Since the early 2000s, the RSAF was rumoured to have taken delivery of the earlier but identical Python 4 missiles for its F-16s, F-5s (and possibly A-4s). pic.twitter.com/hauZRioc49
— Roy Choo (@RXRoy) January 25, 2025
The F-16 was equipped with a purely air-to-air loadout, with the Python-5s on Sta. (stations) 2 and 8, and a pair of AIM-120C/D AMRAAMs (Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles) on Sta. 1 and 9. It also carried 370 gallon drop tanks on Sta. 4 and 6. It appears it was not carrying anything on station 5R (the chin station on the air inlet), although RSAF Vipers (a nickname F-16s are commonly known by) often fly with AN/AAQ-33 Sniper ATP (Advanced Targeting Pods) or AN/AAQ-28 LITENING pods installed there.
Singapore’s MINDEF (Ministry of Defense) confirmed that the RSAF had integrated the Python-5 missile on their F-16s during their MLU (Mid Life Upgrade) program back in Jun. 2023. At the time it didn’t come as too much of a shock, since the RSAF had been rumored to possess earlier Python-4s. However, neither live nor mockup missiles of either variants of the Python AAM have been seen with the RSAF before.
Singapore has confirmed that it’s upgraded F-16s will use the Python V AAM. While it has been rumoured for almost 20 years they were could use Python IV, they have never been seen although RSAF F-16s have been seen with Python training missiles disguised as AIM-9Ps pic.twitter.com/VU686jlFph
— Mike Yeo 杨启铭 (@TheBaseLeg) June 29, 2023
Interestingly, RSAF F-16s and their now retired F-5S/Ts have been spotted with a unique CATM (Captive Air Training Missile) largely similar to the distinctively shaped AIM-9P Sidewinder, but with a larger diameter and a different seeker head. The same CATM has been spotted on Thai and Brazilian F-5s, which are confirmed operators of the Python-4. This cleverly disguised training missile had been the only ‘evidence’ of the service owning the Python-series of missiles up until now.
The F-16C/D/D+s in RSAF Service
According to the leading F-16 database F-16.net, the RSAF owns 62 F-16s, all of which are advanced Block 52 F-16C/D/D+s. The air force operates these out of four squadrons: 140, 143 and 145 are based out of Tengah Air Base located in the western end of the island nation, while the 425th Fighter Squadron operates out of Luke AFB (Air Force Base), Arizona, to train the RSAF’s new pilots on the F-16.
Of the 62 aircraft, the last 20 jets (serials 661 through 680) are F-16D+s, compatible with CFTs (Conformal Fuel Tanks). The aircraft seen on Jan. 20 with the Python-5s was 661, the first of the RSAF’s F-16D+s. These F-16D+s are also virtually identical to the IAF (Israeli Air Force)’s highly customized variant of the F-16D Block 52, the F-16I Sufa, making it one of the most potent Viper variants in the world.
In fact, they were ordered at around the same time as the F-16I and have many common upgrade elements. These F-16D+s feature Israeli EW (Electronic Warfare) suites, infrared missile warning receivers around the fuselage, Python 4/5 missiles used alongside the DASH-III Helmet Mounted Display (which were changed to the JHMCS [Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System] during the MLU program), and LANTIRN (Low Altitude Navigation and Targeting Infrared for Night) capability.
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The remaining F-16C/D Block 52s also contain their own host of Israeli upgrades.
The Python-5 Missile
The Python-5, developed by Israel’s Rafael, is currently one of the most capable visual range air-to-air missiles around the world. It is capable of both LOAL (Lock On After Launch) and LOBL (Lock On Before Launch) employment. The Python-5 made its combat debut in the 2006 Lebanon War, when it was used by IAF F-16s to destroy two Iranian-made Ababil UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) used by Hezbollah.
The missile is externally identical to its predecessor, the Python-4, with only slight differences in dimensions, although with significant upgrades in terms of performance.
According to the manufacturer, the Python 5 “is a 5th generation dual-use air-to-air and air defense missile adaptable to a wide range of aircraft. It is both a short-range missile ideal for dogfights and, at the same time, is a near BVR missile – presenting a substantially extended envelope in head-on scenarios.”
The missile is noted for its “unprecedented immunity” to countermeasures and evasive maneuvers by the target, and it is also capable of “over-the-shoulder” launches, meaning it can be fired at targets behind the launcher aircraft. The missile is operational on the F-15, F-16, Kfir, Tejas LCA, and F-5 with air forces from five countries.
The Python 5 is also integrated into the SPYDER (Surface-to-air PYthon DERby) SAM (Surface to Air Missile) System in service with the RSAF. The missiles on the SPYDER System features full commonality with the air-to-air variants of both the Python-5 and Derby missiles, respectively.
