RSAF moves operations to new runway in Changi Air Base East

The RSAF’s A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport ready to depart from Runway 03/21.

PHOTO: THE REPUBLIC OF SINGAPORE AIR FORCE/FACEBOOK

Published Sep 28, 2026, 08:45 PM

Updated Sep 28, 2026, 08:46 PM

SINGAPORE – The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is shifting its operations in Changi Air Base East to a new runway, allowing for its move away from Paya Lebar Air Base.

In a social media post on Sept 28, the RSAF said the new runway saw its inaugural take-off earlier that day.

A Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) spokesperson told The Straits Times on the same day that the RSAF will be shifting its operations from Runway 02R/20L to Runway 03/21, “in line with the plans for Paya Lebar Air Base’s relocation from 2030 and beyond”.

Announced in 2013, the relocation will open the way for new homes, offices, factories and parks to be built there.

MINDEF had previously said that the relocation from Paya Lebar Air Base would occur only after the Changi Air Base East and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to house the existing assets at Paya Lebar Air Base.

The works at Changi Air Base East would also have to be aligned with other development works, including the building of additional runways for Changi Airport, MINDEF also said then.

According to an aeronautical information publication supplement published by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) in July, the new runway has been operational since Sept 17.

RSAF is listed as its operator, and it is not available for civil use unless with prior coordination.

The new 3,660m-long and 60m-wide runway has hookwire cables, which are used to catch the tailhooks of aircraft during emergency stops, and arrestor barriers, which are used to stop aircraft safely in such situations.

According to aviation websites, these items, known as arresting equipment, are used to recover damaged or degraded fast jets.

The runway is also fitted with TACAN – or Tactical Air Navigation – system for homing purposes, which provides aircraft with bearing and distance information relative to ground-based stations.

Features like the hookwire cables mean fighter jets are likely to be deployed from the new runway, said Chen Chuanren, Asia-Pacific editor at defence, aviation and aerospace publication Aviation Week Network.

The RSAF’s A330 multi-role tanker transport (MRTT) could also be deployed there, given the length of the runway, he also noted.

Changi Airport to use third runway from 2027

Following RSAF’s move to the new runway, the older runway at Changi Air Base East will be closed for all aircraft operations from Oct 1, 2026, to April 14, 2027, according to another aeronautical information publication supplement published on Aug 20.

The older runway, previously used only for military flights, has been extended from 2.75km to 4km to handle larger passenger aircraft, and has been converted for joint military-civilian use.

It will be part of a three-runway system for Changi Airport and the new Changi East development, which includes the future Terminal 5. It has been reported that CAAS will prepare for the three-runway system to start operations in 2027.

In April, Changi Airport Group announced that Changi Airport will operate the third runway as well as its second runway during the northern summer 2027 season, which starts from the end of March 2027.

Chen told ST that the new runway will be beneficial to the RSAF with its previous runway in Changi Air Base East being converted for commercial use.

“Having their own runway will give the RSAF the flexibility to deploy their aircraft as and when they require to, without interfering with the civil runway’s operation.”

Samuel Devaraj is a correspondent covering political and defence issues.

新加坡空军的A330多用途加油运输机已准备好从03/21跑道起飞。

照片：新加坡空军/脸书

发布于 2026 年 9 月 28 日晚上 8:45

更新于2026年9月28日晚上8:46

新加坡——新加坡共和国空军（RSAF）正在将其在樟宜空军基地东部的行动转移到一条新跑道上，从而使其能够离开巴耶利峇空军基地。

新加坡空军于 9 月 28 日在社交媒体上发帖称，新跑道当天早些时候进行了首次起飞。

国防部发言人当天告诉《海峡时报》，新加坡空军将把其行动从 02R/20L 跑道转移到 03/21 跑道，“这符合巴耶利峇空军基地从 2030 年及以后搬迁的计划”。

该搬迁计划于 2013 年宣布，将为在那里建造新的住宅、办公室、工厂和公园铺平道路。

国防部此前曾表示，只有在樟宜空军基地东部和登加空军基地扩建到足以容纳巴耶利峇空军基地现有资产之后，才会从巴耶利峇空军基地搬迁。

国防部当时还表示，樟宜空军基地东部的工程也必须与其他发展工程相协调，包括为樟宜机场修建额外的跑道。

根据新加坡民航局 (CAAS) 7 月份发布的航空信息出版物增刊，新跑道自 9 月 17 日起已投入使用。

新加坡空军被列为该设施的运营方，未经事先协调，不得用于民用用途。

这条新建的跑道长 3660 米，宽 60 米，设有钩索，用于在紧急停止时钩住飞机的尾钩；还设有阻拦屏障，用于在这种情况下安全地阻止飞机。

据航空网站报道，这些被称为阻拦设备的物品用于回收受损或性能下降的高速喷气式飞机。

该跑道还配备了 TACAN（战术空中导航）系统，用于归航，该系统可为飞机提供相对于地面站的方位和距离信息。

《航空周刊》亚太区编辑陈传仁表示，像钩索这样的设施意味着战斗机很可能从这条新跑道上部署。该刊物是国防、航空和航天出版物《航空周刊》。

他还指出，鉴于跑道的长度，新加坡空军的A330多用途加油运输机（MRTT）也可以部署在那里。

樟宜机场将于2027年启用第三条跑道

根据 8 月 20 日发布的另一份航空信息出版物增刊，随着新加坡空军迁至新跑道，樟宜空军基地东部的旧跑道将于 2026 年 10 月 1 日至 2027 年 4 月 14 日期间关闭，禁止所有飞机起降。

这条较老的跑道以前只用于军事飞行，现在已从 2.75 公里延长至 4 公里，以适应更大的客机，并已改建为军民两用跑道。

它将成为樟宜机场三条跑道系统以及包括未来5号航站楼在内的樟宜东部新开发项目的一部分。据报道，新加坡民航局将为三条跑道系统于2027年投入运营做好准备。

今年 4 月，樟宜机场集团宣布，樟宜机场将在 2027 年北半球夏季（从 2027 年 3 月底开始）启用第三条跑道以及第二条跑道。

陈告诉《海峡时报》，新跑道将有利于新加坡空军，因为其位于樟宜空军基地东部的旧跑道已被改作商业用途。

“拥有自己的跑道将使新加坡空军能够根据需要灵活部署飞机，而不会干扰民用跑道的运行。”

Samuel Devaraj 是一名报道政治和国防问题的记者。