The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Australian Navy (RAN) have concluded this year’s bilateral maritime exercise, Singaroo.
The joint naval military exercise was conducted in the waters off Singapore to develop an enhanced understanding and improved working relationship between the two nations’ navies.
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Exercise Singaroo 2018 involved participation of the Australian Navy vessels HMAS Stuart and HMAS Sirius together with the RSN assets RSS Valiant and RSS Vigour.
HMAS Stuart commanding officer commander Chris Leece said: “Exercise Singaroo builds on the already strong ties between Australia and Singapore.
“The training serials tested our warfare skills, enhanced our interoperability with the Singapore Navy and gave us an opportunity to build personal relationships.”
The biennial exercise also provided the military personnel from the two navies with the opportunity to increase their professional interaction.
HMAS Stuart principle warfare officer LEUT James Knight said: “The serials, consisting of a live fire surface engagement and a simulated over-the-horizon engagement, were well coordinated and executed.
“For the over-the-horizon engagement, Stuart and Vigour were placed against Sirius and Valiant.
“Stuart’s MH-60R was deployed with one of Vigour’s unmanned aerial vehicles, a first for both countries utilising both manned and unmanned surveillance aircraft, proving interoperability between the two countries.”
Furthermore, personnel exchange was carried during the exercise. This enabled personnel from both navies to experience life on each other nations’ vessels.
The two Australian Navy vessels will now participate in Exercise Bersama Lima 2018 as part of the Five Power Defence Agreement (FPDA) in order to support interoperability throughout Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK.
