Exercise Trident 2024, the signature biennial joint training exercise between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has concluded. The exercise which was conducted 6-15 November, involved more than 1,900 personnel from the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the ADF.
During the exercise, the SAF and ADF conducted battalion-level amphibious operation, including ship-to-shore projections of troops and vehicles using the RSN’s Fast Craft Utility (FCU) and Fast Craft Equipment and Personnel (FCEP) from two Landing Ships Tank (LSTs), RSS Endurance and RSS Persistence. This was followed by sea resupply operations from the 3rd SAF Transport Battalion’s Lighter Amphibious Resupply Cargo 5 ton (LARC V). The RSAF provided integrated support with the deployment of AH-64D helicopters, as well as the inaugural participation of the RSAF’s Heron-1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs); while the CH-47F and H225M helicopters conducted troop lift from the LSTs. Exercise Trident culminated in an urban operation executed by troops from the SAF and ADF.
On the sidelines of the exercise, defence scientists from MINDEF’s Future Systems and Technology Directorate and DSO National Laboratories (DSO) partnered the Australian Department of Defence’s Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) to conduct Science and Technology (S&T) demonstrations. For the first time, they deployed an integrated network of unmanned aerial and ground vehicles as well as a tactical 5G communications network at the Urban Operations Training Facility to support both SAF’s and ADF’s urban operations. These autonomous vehicles also provide 3D terrain mapping simultaneously to both SAF and ADF personnel at high speed, high bandwidth and low latency.
On 13 November Australia and Singapore opened new and expanded facilities at Shoalwater Bay Training Area. The Secretary of the Department of Defence, Mr Greg Moriarty, and Singapore’s Senior Minister of State for Defence, Mr Heng Chee How, opened the new facilities developed under the Australia-Singapore Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The Shoalwater Bay Training Area has been expanded to meet the future needs of the ADF and facilitate an increased presence of SAF personnel conducting unilateral training in Australia. Up to 6,600 SAF personnel will now be able to train for a single nine-week period each year, compared to the previous 45-day period. New infrastructure and range developments at Shoalwater Bay Training Area include:
- two urban operations live fire facilities, the first of their type in Australia,
- combined air-land ranges,
- camp accommodation for up to 2,000 personnel, and
- medical, administration, exercise control facilities and supporting infrastructure.
Mr Moriarty said the new facilities would enhance training outcomes for Australia and Singapore. “The expansion of the training area will enable the ADF and SAF to concurrently conduct our own unilateral training, and also support enhanced bilateral training and complexity….This is the latest milestone in our nations’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and we welcome the opportunity to continue to learn from each other in a joint exercise environment,” Mr Moriarty said.
Exercise Trident has grown in scope and scale to enhance interoperability between the Australian Defence Force and Singapore Armed Forces since it was first held in 2013.
This year, Exercise Trident 2024’s focus is on airmobile, littoral and urban combat operations. It will involve more than 1,900 SAF and ADF personnel, two ships and include a combined science and technology component focusing on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) interoperability.
Sources: ADF & SAF
