The Singapore deployment

How Australia filled the ‘East of Suez’ void

The announcement in January 1968 that Britain would withdraw from its interests ‘East of Suez’ by 1971, was to have long-reaching consequences as it led to Australia electing to play the prime role in the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) subsequently negotiated between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

Britain began its rundown of forces East of Suez by disbanding three RAF fighter squadrons: Nos 60 and 64 Squadrons operating Gloster Javelin all-weather fighters and No 20 Squadron operating Hawker Hunter ground attack fighters. When Headquarters Far East Air Force was disbanded on November 6 1970, only the two RAF control and reporting units (CRUs), and No 74 Squadron, with BAC Lightning F6 interceptors at RAF Tengah, remained.