VITAL PARTNERSHIP FORGED AT EX CARAT

Singapore and the United States are nations bound together by a realisation of global dependence on the seas and a vital need for security on those seas, said United States Navy's (USN) Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific, Rear-Admiral Nora Tyson.

"Efforts to enhance maritime security serve both our national interests, at the same time, they serve the global good," she said, during the opening ceremony of the annual Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise at Changi Naval Base.

"Our strategy seeks to enhance security of the maritime domain, respond to the full spectrum of crises and ensure we are prepared for any uncertainty in the future."

The 14th exercise in the annual CARAT series, Ex CARAT 2008 will focus on conventional maritime competencies in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, maritime air operations, and maritime security operations.

Held from 23 Jun to 3 Jul, a key highlight during the exercise will be the MISTRAL missile-firing by the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) Landing Ship Tank RSS Endeavour against air drone targets.

Land, sea and air elements from the two armed forces, totalling 1,400 personnel, 14 ships, five fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and one submarine, will be deployed for the exercise.

Such exercises allow both navies to work in concert with each other, leveraging on valuable combined experience to face common challenges. By operating together in an operational environment, mutual awareness, respect and understanding can also be developed.

RSN Fleet Commander, Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng, who co-officiated at the opening ceremony, hailed CARAT as one of the most integrated bilateral exercises between Singapore and the United States, with people and assets from the USN, the US Coast Guard, the US Marine Corps, the RSN, the Republic of Singapore Air Force, the Singapore Army (Guards) and the Police Coast Guards, featuring prominently.

"Through CARAT, our two navies have achieved a high level of inter-operability, which puts us in good stead when we have to operate alongside each other," said RADM Ng.

"Our ability to work very well together in the Northern Arabian Gulf to support the international reconstruction efforts of Iraq is due in no small part to the years of close cooperation in activities and exercises such as CARAT."

The SAF and the US Armed Forces have been participating in Ex CARAT since 1995. Back then, only three ships from each navy and minimal air assets were deployed in simple surface serials.

It has since continued to expand in scope, scale and complexity to include maritime security and other non-conventional serials, in keeping with the constantly evolving security climate.