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SINGAPORE: The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) launched a bilateral exercise on Saturday (September 26) in the southern tip of the South China Sea.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Singaroo exercise.
There will be no physical interactions between the personnel of both navies due to the COVID-19 situation, the Singapore Ministry of Defense (MINDEF) said in a press release.
“During the exercise, both navies will conduct various series, including artillery fire, maneuver drills, ongoing resupply, air defense exercises, communication exercises and encounter exercises where UAVs will be deployed to provide surveillance and threat identification,” said the MINDEF.
The exercise, which ends on Monday, will also be supported by three aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).
“Exercise Singaroo serves as a useful platform for the RSN and RAN to carry out high-level training in the air, maritime and submarine domains,” said RSN’s 8th Flotilla Commander, Colonel Ho Jee Kien.
“As we commemorate the 25th anniversary of the exercise this year, we look forward to many more years of close cooperation and friendship between our two navies.”
The Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defense Forces interact frequently through bilateral and multilateral exercises, as well as through high-level visits, regular dialogues, professional exchanges and cross-attending courses.