Singapore Takes Part in Exercise Bersama Padu 2010

Singapore Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant General Neo Kian Hong and Malaysia Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Azizan bin Ariffin interacting with exercise participants at Butterworth Air Base during the exercise's opening ceremony.

28 October 2010 -- Exercise Bersama Padu 2010, a major Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) joint exercise hosted by Malaysia, will be concluding tomorrow. A total of 13 ships, 63 aircraft and about 1000 personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom participated in the exercise.

Exercise Bersama Padu aims to enhance interoperability and mutual cooperation among the armed forces of the FPDA nations. This year's exercise, which started on 11 Oct 2010, comprised a shore-based planning phase at the Butterworth Air Base in Penang, Malaysia and a sea phase conducted in the South China Sea. The exercise scenario involved air, maritime and land forces from the FPDA nations working together in a multi-threat environment to conduct air defence, naval surface warfare and land integration operations.

Captain Sanipher Sin (first from left) from the Republic of Singapore Navy working with her FPDA counterparts at the Butterworth Air Base during Exercise Bersama Padu 2010.

The Chief of Defence Force of the Singapore Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Neo Kian Hong, will be officiating at the closing ceremony held at the Butterworth Air Base on 29 Oct 2010. The Malaysian Chief of Defence Force General Tan Sri Dato' Sri Azizan bin Ariffin had officiated at the opening ceremony at Butterworth Air Base on 15 Oct 2010.

EX Bersama Padu 2010 - Force Protection

324 Combat Support Squadron is Australia's support squadron permanently based at RMAF Butterworth in Malaysia. The squadron provides essential support to Australian units operating from RMAF Butterworth throughout the year. The squadron comprises Royal Australian Air Force personnel and locally employed civilians who support Australia's national interests in South-East Asia by providing deployed combat and domestic support.

Corporal Richard Kohn and Sergeant Jarrod Fairfield, from 324 Combat Support Squadron's force protection flight, conduct security patrols at 3 Squadron's flightline. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Sergeant Jarrod Fairfield, from 324 Combat Support Squadron's force protection flight, heads towards the warehouse at RMAF Butterworth during Exercise Bersama Padu 2010. (Photo: Australia DoD)

Members of 324 Combat Support Squadron's force protection flight heads toward the flightline during Excercise Bersama Padu 2010. (Photo: Australia DoD)

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