AIR-LAND INTEGRATION IN EXERCISE WALLABY

The booming rounds fired by the Bionix II Infantry Fighting Vehicle and the SM1 tanks reverberated throughout Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, as the Armoured Battle Group surged forward to capture key 'enemy' terrain.

This mounted assault was carried out by over 20 Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) armoured vehicles after heavy artillery shelling and rocket fire from the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) Apache Longbow attack helicopters on the target area.

The synchronised delivery of precision fires by air and land fighting platforms was shown during the Integrated Systems Live-Firing at Exercise Wallaby 2007, an annual exercise conducted by the SAF in Australia.

This year, it showcased the air-land integration of a network-enabled Army, supported by the RSAF, even at the brigade level.

"This air-land integration is the development of all the Services in the SAF, to function together as One SAF," said Exercise Air Director Colonel Yeo Yee Peng.

"We see the integration as a seeding ground, in terms of being able to train comfortably at the service command post level, down to the last fighting unit."

Witnessed by Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, the integrated systems live-firing also featured artillery platforms such as the PRIMUS Self-Propelled Howitzer and the Mortar Tracked Carrier.

"In Ex Wallaby, we have taken enormous steps to train as a total system," said Exercise Director Brigadier-General Philip Lim.

"In the first- and second-generation Army, we fight in platforms. In the third-generation Army, we do systems fighting and for us all to come together and train together, we are able to harness the complete capabilities from the air as well as land platforms."

About 3,600 SAF troops comprising Operationally Ready National Servicemen, full-time National Servicemen and SAF regulars from the Singapore Armour and RSAF units are participating in Ex Wallaby 07.

The exercise will end on 25 Nov.

The SAF's training at the SWBTA is an example of the excellent defence relationship between Singapore and Australia. The SAF and the Australian Defence Force have an extensive range of interactions including bilateral and multilateral training exercises, as well as professional exchanges.