The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will conduct a bilateral ship-to-shore exercise at the Repulse Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia, from September 23 to October 3, with more than 1,600 troops from both armies.
The 2022 edition of Exercise Trident is also part of the SAF’s wider Exercise Wallaby campaign and is the largest exercise since its launch in 2013, with the deployment of two Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) Endurance-class landing ships , Tank (LST) Platform – RSS endurance and RSS Persistence – and the first engagement of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) Canberra-class Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) HMAS Adelaide.
The amphibious exercise was also supported by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) CH-47 Chinook heavy-lift helicopters, which are providing transport for the first troops to begin on the three, according to the Ministry of Defence of Singapore (MINDEF). ship. RSAF AH-64D Apache attack helicopters provide air fire support to deployed troops.
The Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force have a long history of military cooperation, with extensive interactions including bilateral and multilateral exercises and professional exchanges. Singapore has also conducted military training in Australia for more than 30 years, using the latter’s vast land and airspace for large-scale exercises and live fire.
The exercises are a feature of Australia and Singapore’s comprehensive strategic partnership, with the two countries jointly developing key training areas in Queensland under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative.
Singapore’s Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Heng stressed the importance of access to overseas training facilities such as the Repulse Bay training area, noting that such opportunities are “moral-boosting…and very, very valuable” for the SAF.
“Australia is proud to count Singapore as one of its closest partners. Our defence relationship is characterised by trust and friendship, underpinned by our shared commitment to the region,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Mallers said.
“Exercise Trident allows us to deepen the bond between the two militaries and demonstrate how closely we can work together when necessary,” he added.
by Jr Ng
