SAF, INDIAN ARMY EXERCISE TOGETHER

While training in a foreign country can be challenging, the troops return home with more experience and confidence in themselves, said Lieutenant-Colonel (LTC) David Chua.

The Commanding Officer of the 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment, was with his men training in central India as part of a bilateral exercise codenamed Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, which ends on 5 May.

This exercise, which also involved personnel from Headquarters 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade and the Indian Army's 94th Armoured Brigade, is the fourth in the annual series.

Joint planning and training, integrated manoeuvres and live-firing were conducted by both armies as part of this event.

The region's arid heat, said LTC Chua, not only tested the soldiers but also the equipment, which are "performing well" despite toiling in a different climate and terrain.

Among the assets deployed were the Singapore Armed Forces' BIONIX Infantry Fighting Vehicle and BRONCO All-Terrain Tracked Carrier, which made its first appearance at Ex Bold Kurukshetra.

"The exercise showed us the smallest details that have to be coordinated when working with a different force, and I think that gave us good lessons about merging forces on the ground," said LTC Chua.

At the closing ceremony, General Officer Commanding Major-General Deepinder Singh from the Indian Army commended the Singapore troops for their "extremely high level of training and commitment" and their "extremely good firing".

"We picked up a great deal from you and I'm confident that after this, our troops, too, would be enthused to undertake operations in some of the methods that you have shown us," he said.

Chief of Army Major-General Neo Kian Hong visited the exercise on 1 May, along with Chief Armour Officer Brigadier-General Philip Lim.