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The regional partners are honing their amphibious warfighting skills as part of a joint military exercise in Queensland.
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The Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the Singapore Armed Forces have combined for Exercise Trident — an amphibious military training exercise involving more than 1,600 personnel.
The exercise, taking place from 23 September to 3 October at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, includes the deployment of Royal Australian Navy Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) HMAS Adelaide, set to operate alongside Republic of Singapore Navy vessels RSS Persistence and RSS Endurance.
This builds on over three decades of joint military engagement between Australia and Singapore in an effort to bolster interoperability and strengthen bilateral ties in support of common regional interests.
Exercise Trident forms part of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership — a deal aimed at jointly developing key training areas in Queensland under the Australia-Singapore Military Training Initiative.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles noted the importance of engaging with Singapore, described as one of Australia’s closest regional partners.
“Our defence relationship is characterised by trust and friendship, underpinned by our shared commitment to the region,” he said.
“Exercise Trident enables us to deepen our military-to-military ties and shows how closely we can work together when it counts.”
Exercise Trident coincides with Exercise Kakadu 22 — a multinational training activity involving more than 15 vessels, over 30 aircraft and approximately 3,000 personnel from more than 20 countries.
Conducted in the Northern Australian Exercise area, KA22 will be led by the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and supported by the Royal Australian Air Force.
The biennial exercise, which commenced in 1993, is the RAN’s flagship international engagement activity.
In addition to an at-sea exercise program, KA22 is expected to involve a harbour phase comprising briefings, a Fleet Commanders and Senior Leaders’ conference, cultural events, sports and social functions.
[Related: RAN, RAAF gear up for Exercise Kakadu]
