INTEGRATED SAF COUNTER-PIRACY TASK FORCE IN GULF OF ADEN

The set-up of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) counter-piracy task group currently deployed in the Gulf of Aden (GoA) is an example of the close integration among the SAF's air, land, and sea assets.

Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing noted this when he visited the task group on 10 Apr.

The task group is on a three-month deployment in support of international counter-piracy operations in GoA. It operates a Formidable-class stealth frigate RSS Tenacious, paired with a Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter on board.

Both assets work together to patrol the sea for pirates and respond to distress calls from merchant ships that are under attack. If a situation calls for it, assault troops from the Ship Security Unit will board and investigate suspicious vessels.

In an interview with cyberpioneer after visiting the 151-strong crew on board RSS Tenacious, Mr Chan said: "This is one of the few deployments where we have the Army, Navy and Air Force working closely together. The fact that they can work so seamlessly together is a testimony to the kind of training that they have, and the kind of bond within the SAF."

He added: "This speaks well for the SAF, and gives me confidence that, when called upon, our three Services will be able to work seamlessly together."

To prepare themselves for the mission, the crew of RSS Tenacious had gone through months of training before they left Singapore for GoA on 17 Mar. They had trained extensively in the South China Sea to get used to the rigours of a long operation out at sea.

Not only have the three Services within the SAF worked well together, the SAF task group itself is also operating well together with the multinational coalition forces in GoA. Captain Maximilian Tay, for instance, communicates with his coalition counterparts to ensure that their ship patrols and surveillance flights do not overlap.

"In doing so, we ensure that our surveillance is optimised, and we have a better coverage in the vast expanse of the Gulf of Aden," explained the Task Group Principal Warfare Officer.

He added: "On our part, we also conduct our surveillance flights and our sector patrols appropriately in the designated area that we have been given, working hand-in-hand with other forces in the theatre (of operation)."

Led by Colonel Cheong Kwok Chien, this is the SAF's fifth task group deployment to GoA since 2009. It operates under the coordination of the multinational Combined Task Force (CTF) 151. The SAF had previously commanded the CTF 151 in 2010, 2011 and 2013.

Said Mr Chan: "This is our contribution to the international effort We are also a nation that depends heavily on safe shipping in the entire world community. So we do what we can, and I am proud that we have been able to contribute meaningfully to this."