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Australian Defence personnel have linked up with counterparts from four nations to take part in a Singapore-based military exercise.
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The Australian Defence force (ADF) has deployed troops for Exercise Suman Protector — a multinational military exercise involving more than 260 personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.
As part of this year’s iteration, hosted by Singapore, 30 ADF personnel are expected to take part in a nine-day command post exercise (CPX), which aims to build ties established via the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) and support common security goals.
Australia’s Vice Chief of the Defence Force Vice Admiral David Johnston AC, RAN, who attended the opening ceremony, noted the importance of the activity.
“The FPDA is an anchor for regional security and stability,” VADM Johnston said.
“It strengthens interoperability between our militaries and provides a recognised and well-rehearsed platform for partner nation cooperation, with a focus on high-end conventional warfighting.”
VADM Johnston said the ADF’s participation in Suman Protector represents Australia’s ongoing commitment to the FPDA.
“The Suman series of command post exercises builds on Defence’s other contributions to the FPDA, including the Bersama series of field exercises, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief planning, and our other broader commitments including Rifle Company Butterworth,” he said.
Exercise Suman Protector follows Exercise Kakadu 2022, a joint military training activity involving approximately 3,000 personnel from 22 countries, led by Australia’s Navy and Air Force.
The Northern Australian exercise area hosted a total of 15 warships, including a submarine, and 34 aircraft from 12 to 24 September.
The exercise, which spanned over 24,500 nautical miles, included 13 anti-submarine warfare activities, 15 air warfare serials, and 17 gun-firing exercises.
More than 13,000 rounds of ammunition were expended in high-end training scenarios over the course of the exercise.
[Related: Exercise Kakadu draws to a close]
