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The inaugural Exercise Bersama Padu 2006, a major Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) joint exercise involving Air, Maritime and Land forces, is being held from 4 - 22 Sep 06. Exercise Bersama Padu, which means "Together United" in Malay, is hosted by Singapore and aims to enhance the interoperability, operational capability and mutual co-operation among the armed forces from the five FPDA nations. The exercise also enhances regional peace and stability, and strengthens the FPDA's ability to deal with the security challenges facing the region today. The FPDA member countries are Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
Exercise Bersama Padu 2006 involves a total of 21 warships, 85 aircraft, 1 submarine as well as ground support components. The exercise focuses on exercising FPDA armed forces in the conduct of joint operations in a multi-threat environment. The exercise further builds capacity in the area of maritime security, through the conduct of a maritime security serial which will involve Other Government Departments (OGDs) - such as Singapore's Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) - exercising alongside the FPDA armed forces.
During the exercise, personnel ashore will participate in operational level planning at the exercise HQ, situated in Paya Lebar Air Base. FPDA forces deployed will conduct force integration training, tactical exercises and maritime security exercises within Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore, as well as in the South China Sea.
The opening ceremony was held today at Changi Naval Base and was officiated by the Singapore Armed Forces Chief of Defence Force, Lieutenant-General Ng Yat Chung. The closing ceremony, which will be held at Changi Naval Base on 22 Sep, will be officiated by the Malaysian Chief of Defence Forces Admiral Tan Sri Dato' Sri Mohd Anwar bin Haji Mohd Nor.
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