SENIOR MINISTER OF STATE FOR DEFENCE VISITS MARITIME EXERCISE

Acting Minister for Social and Family Development and Senior Minister of State for Defence Chan Chun Sing observed various maritime agencies in action as they came together in an exercise to defend Singapore's territorial waters at the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre on 23 Nov.

The exercise, led by the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF), is aimed at enhancing collaboration and interoperability between maritime agencies.

Codenamed APEX, the exercise involves 1,033 personnel from the Navy, Air Force and Army, as well as from the National Maritime Security System (NMSS), the Police Coast Guard (PCG) and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

Six patrol vessels, two mine countermeasure vessels, a frigate, a missile corvette, a landing ship tank, two Super Puma helicopters, a maritime patrol aircraft and rigid hull inflatable boats from the SAF were deployed for the exercise, along with craft from PCG and MPA.

Besides operational planning, table-top discussions and Naval Tactical Trainer simulations, mission scenarios such as sea mine disposals, escort of merchant vessels and operations to counter small boat infiltrations were also played out at sea during the exercise being held from 29 Oct to 27 Nov.

During his visit, Mr Chan observed participants carrying out integrated operations and spoke with them about their roles in the exercise.

He commented: "Exercise APEX is a very important exercise for the maritime security of Singapore, and I'm very happy to see all the agencies working closely with one another."

On the working relationship among the agencies in the exercise, Mr Chan said: "The Navy will have to continue to evolve the partnership to work even closer with them, not just in terms of technical systems, but also to build trust and confidence in one another, so that we can interoperate and call upon one another when the need arises."