OPS & TRAINING
EX BERSAMA PADU BREAKS NEW GROUND
07 Sep 2006
The inaugural Exercise Bersama Padu 2006 will involve the exercising of full land and logistics components for the first time, as well as the increased scope of participation by Other Government Departments (OGD) and the International Community of the Red Cross, as part of the non-conventional operational training.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, revealed this during the opening ceremony held at Changi Naval Base on 7 Sep.
"The maritime security component of the exercise will feature the interception and boarding of two target vessels, while a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) Command Post Exercise will be introduced to strengthen inter-agency coordination," said LG Ng.
"These augmentations to the exercise, on top of realistic and demanding exercise play at the operational and tactical levels, will enable the FPDA to strengthen its conventional capabilities while building capacity to handle a wider range of non-conventional operations."
Exercise Bersama Padu, which means "United Together" in Malay, is hosted by Singapore and will exercise the armed forces of the five FPDA nations - Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom - in carrying out joint operations in a multi-threat environment.
Through role-play and realistic exercise scenarios, the 19-day exercise aims to enhance the interoperability, operational capability and mutual co-operation.
It is also the largest and most complex FPDA exercise involving air, maritime and land forces to date.
A total of 21 ships, 85 aircraft, one submarine and 292 HQ staff personnel are involved in the exercise. Support components, including diving teams, Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) elements and other supporting elements, will also be participating.
Exercise Director, Rear-Admiral Tan Kai Hoe, the Republic of Singapore Navy's Fleet Commander, said the exercise was divided into four phases:
pre-exercise training and planning phase from 4 to 8 Sep,
training phase from 9 to 16 Sep, when training at various levels will be conducted for the maritime and air units,
live exercise phase from 17 to 21 Sep, during which the exercise will be conducted by the FPDA Tactical Forces in the South China Sea, and
the post exercise phase from 22 to 26 Sep.
The Maritime Interdiction and Operations (MIOPS) serial will be conducted during the live exercise phase and will involve other government departments including Singapore's Police Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Customs (SC).
"It is my hope that the exercise will be a useful learning platform for all units participating," said RADM Tan."It will be a time to share experiences, enhance interoperability and also to learn of each other's culture."
Since its formation in 1971, the scope of FPDA activities has expanded considerably to remain relevant to the needs of its members. In light of the emergence of non-conventional threats in the security environment, the FPDA Defence Ministers agreed in 2004 that the FPDA broaden its scope to include the development of capabilities to address non-conventional threats.
Since then, maritime security serials have been successfully integrated into FPDA exercises, with increasing complexity. The participation of non-military agencies in FPDA maritime security serials has also increased the training and professional value of these exercises.
Over the past 35 years, the FPDA has become an integral part of the regional security architecture and continues to contribute to regional stability.
Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung, revealed this during the opening ceremony held at Changi Naval Base on 7 Sep.
"The maritime security component of the exercise will feature the interception and boarding of two target vessels, while a Non-Combatant Evacuation Operation (NEO) Command Post Exercise will be introduced to strengthen inter-agency coordination," said LG Ng.
"These augmentations to the exercise, on top of realistic and demanding exercise play at the operational and tactical levels, will enable the FPDA to strengthen its conventional capabilities while building capacity to handle a wider range of non-conventional operations."
Exercise Bersama Padu, which means "United Together" in Malay, is hosted by Singapore and will exercise the armed forces of the five FPDA nations - Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom - in carrying out joint operations in a multi-threat environment.
Through role-play and realistic exercise scenarios, the 19-day exercise aims to enhance the interoperability, operational capability and mutual co-operation.
It is also the largest and most complex FPDA exercise involving air, maritime and land forces to date.
A total of 21 ships, 85 aircraft, one submarine and 292 HQ staff personnel are involved in the exercise. Support components, including diving teams, Ground-based Air Defence (GBAD) elements and other supporting elements, will also be participating.
Exercise Director, Rear-Admiral Tan Kai Hoe, the Republic of Singapore Navy's Fleet Commander, said the exercise was divided into four phases:
pre-exercise training and planning phase from 4 to 8 Sep,
training phase from 9 to 16 Sep, when training at various levels will be conducted for the maritime and air units,
live exercise phase from 17 to 21 Sep, during which the exercise will be conducted by the FPDA Tactical Forces in the South China Sea, and
the post exercise phase from 22 to 26 Sep.
The Maritime Interdiction and Operations (MIOPS) serial will be conducted during the live exercise phase and will involve other government departments including Singapore's Police Coast Guard (PCG), Maritime and Port Authority (MPA), Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the Singapore Customs (SC).
"It is my hope that the exercise will be a useful learning platform for all units participating," said RADM Tan."It will be a time to share experiences, enhance interoperability and also to learn of each other's culture."
Since its formation in 1971, the scope of FPDA activities has expanded considerably to remain relevant to the needs of its members. In light of the emergence of non-conventional threats in the security environment, the FPDA Defence Ministers agreed in 2004 that the FPDA broaden its scope to include the development of capabilities to address non-conventional threats.
Since then, maritime security serials have been successfully integrated into FPDA exercises, with increasing complexity. The participation of non-military agencies in FPDA maritime security serials has also increased the training and professional value of these exercises.
Over the past 35 years, the FPDA has become an integral part of the regional security architecture and continues to contribute to regional stability.
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