OPS & TRAINING

SAF tests new fighting concepts & capabilities at Exercise Wallaby 2026

27 Oct 2026

With a focus on adaptability and innovation, the 36th Exercise Wallaby brings about 6,000 personnel and 1,200 platforms from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to Australia for complex, large-scale training.

408 SAR conducting an integrated air-land live firing exercise on 27 Oct, with AH-64D helicopters providing close air support while the Bionix vehicles fire their shots.

Story by Lee Kah Kit from Rockhampton, Australia

Photos by Chai Sian Liang, Rachel Ong and courtesy of MINDEF

Amidst the roar of AH-64D Apache helicopters and the boom of shots fired from the Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles, national servicemen put themselves to the test in an integrated live-firing exercise at Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, Australia.

This is the first time an NS (National Service) Armour battalion is conducting live-firing using the Armour Live Firing System (ALFS) at Exercise Wallaby (XWB).

The SAF’s largest unilateral overseas exercise, this year’s edition runs from 6 Sep to 2 Nov and involves about 6,000 personnel and 1,200 platforms drawn from the Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Digital and Intelligence Service.

The Bionix vehicles of 408th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (408 SAR) lining up to complete their live-firing exercise.
The Apache-47F providing close-air support to the Bionix doing their living-firing exercise.
Major (MAJ) (NS) Eugene Lim (left), Commanding Officer of 408 SAR shared that XWB26 has been the highlight of his NS journey so far. What makes it even more special is that he gets to share that experience with his Battalion 2nd In-Charge – MAJ (NS) Satiysh Kumar – whom he has known for 17 years!
Cross-Service integration in practice: The Army and RSAF carrying out a troop-lift mission to insert soldiers from 42 SAR behind simulated enemy lines.
All smiles from the RSAF crew on the CH-47F Chinook helicopter as they successfully complete the troop-lift mission!
On the advantages of training in Australia, CH-47F pilot Captain (CPT) Eng Jia Jie “Jango” says: “With the vast dedicated airspace over SWBTA, we are able to fly to our training limits in terms of speed and altitude without worrying about external factors.”
AH-64D pilot CPT Clemen Liu “Atlas” (centre) explains that his job is “to make sure the area around the landing zone is free of threats that might pose a danger to the Chinooks we are escorting (during the troop-lift mission)”. Air Force Engineers like Military Expert (ME) 4 Audrey Owyong (left) and ME1 Low Jee Jwan ensure the AH-64Ds are always mission-ready when called upon.
The two CH-47Fs are accompanied by two AH-64Ds, which provide firepower and deterrence to counter enemy threats during the troop-lift mission.

This year, the focus of XWB26 is to test out new capabilities and trial cutting-edge operational concepts that allow the SAF to stay ahead of the curve and be adaptable in the modern battlefield.

“Being adaptive is fundamental to how we keep pace with evolving threats and new operational demands,” said XWB26 Frame 3 Exercise Director and Commander of 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade Colonel (COL) Joshua Goh.

COL Goh is grateful that the SWBTA gives the SAF ample space to test and validate new concepts.

These new capabilities include the freshly unveiled Next Generation Infantry Battalion (NGIB), which reforms the traditional infantry company into one that fights using manned-unmanned teams and has greater flexibility in deploying troops.

For instance, each company will have two dedicated Steel Net sections that operate unmanned systems, including surveillance and attack drones.

The NGIB will progressively incorporate new weapons and assets – such as the Light Machine Gun and unmanned systems – to improve its sensing, protection and firepower capabilities.
Chief Infantry Officer Brigadier General Fairoz Hassan notes that the purpose of the NGIB is to enable soldiers to “fight smarter, integrate better and be future ready”.

New technology such as the 5G-Enabled Aerial Communications Node (ACN) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) are also being trialled at XWB26.

The former provides high-bandwidth connectivity for improved battlefield communications between headquarters and soldiers on the ground, while the latter allows the SAF to quickly detect and respond to unmanned threats.

CPT Jerome Chua, Deputy Operations Officer of 10th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion, with the 5G ACN drone (foreground) that can fly up to 2km away from its base station, and provide network coverage within a radius of about 400m.
The mobile C-UAS can neutralise an enemy drone by jamming its communications signals back to its pilot. This causes the drone to become uncontrollable and forces it to land.

The RSAF is also trialling the use of drones launched from CH-47F helicopters to provide surveillance, as well as digital tools such as the Helicopter Decision Support System (Heli-DSS) and Digitally Aided Close Air Support (DACAS).

The Heli-DSS is an AI (Artificial Intelligence)-enabled system used to support helicopter mission planning and decision making, while the DACAS app improves coordination by digitalising information exchange between aircraft and strike controllers on the ground.

An aircrew specialist launching a drone from the CH-47F helicopter. This can be used to extend the aircrew’s visual coverage and provide last-mile surveillance in complex operations.
The Heli-DSS uses AI agents to compute and plan the mission routing for RSAF helicopters, cutting down planning time from hours to potentially minutes.
Traditionally performed through a 12-step verbal confirmation, the process of calling in close air support can be digitalised by the DACAS app, saving precious minutes. The team who developed the app includes MAJ Shayne Tan (left), the DACAS project lead, and Mr Adriel Chua, a senior programme manager from DSTA.
The Orbiter 4 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) launched into the air using a rail system. This allows it to be deployed in a wider variety of terrain without the need for a traditional runway.
Full-time National Serviceman (NSF) 2nd Lieutenant (2LT) Robert Shacklock is excited to participate in XWB26 as an Orbiter 4 UAV Pilot.
2LT Shacklock (left) conducting checks on the Orbiter 4 with ME2 Martin Peh, an Air Force Engineer in charge of preparing and maintaining the UAV for its missions during XWB26.

Behind the frontline manoeuvres, the Forward Support Group (FSG) remains vital, providing comprehensive medical, logistical, maintenance, and transportation support throughout the entire exercise.

To improve the experience of personnel based at Camp Tilpal, new facilities – such as an open-air gym – have been unveiled this year. Other improvements include an expanded 3D printing laboratory that can quickly create drone parts to meet the Army’s training needs.

Camp Tilpal’s first open-air gym has been well-received by servicemen based there. There are plans to double the size of the gym for next year’s exercise, says Commander FSG Lieutenant Colonel Wong Meng Kit.
The 3D printing lab at Camp Tilpal expanded from one container to three containers for XWB26, and is now capable of printing metal and 3D polymer parts for drones.
ME2 Muhammad Nor Farid Bin Shamsudin, the Wheeled Platform Overall In-Charge at XWB26, works together with his team to support and maintain the Army’s wheeled platforms.
Command, Control, Communications and Computers Operator Corporal Asriel Ngoh says XWB26 has been the highlight of his time so far as an NSF: “It is a privilege to be deployed to an overseas exercise, and this experience has made me learn more about myself.”

Participation from the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) has also doubled, with volunteers taking on diverse roles such as nurses, radiographers, and transport operators.

Among them is SAFVC Volunteer (SV) 1 Sharon Cheong, who is serving as a Medical Trainer at XWB26.

SV1 Cheong (left), an emergency department nurse in her day job, is serving as a Medical Trainer at XWB26.

An emergency department nurse, she decided to join the SAFVC as she had always wanted to contribute her nursing skills beyond her regular work.

“Joining the SAFVC gave me a practical way to support our servicemen and women who train to defend Singapore… (and) I’m proud to be a part of first SAFVC medical trainers to come and support Exercise Wallaby.”

Tags:
Exercise Wallaby XWB26 408 SAR CH-47F C-UAS Drones FSG Orbiter 4 NGIB SAFVC
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