Singapore and US Navies Conduct Bilateral Exercise Pacific Griffin

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) frigate RSS Intrepid firing a Harpoon anti-ship missile in the waters off Guam during Ex Pacific Griffin 2019.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the United States Navy (USN) are participating in the second edition of Exercise Pacific Griffin from 24 September to 11 October 2019. The bilateral exercise, held in Guam Naval Base and the waters off Guam, involves two frigates from the RSN, RSS Formidable and RSS Intrepid, and USN's littoral combat ship USS Gabrielle Giffords, destroyer USS Momsen, auxiliary ship USNS Amelia Earhart, and a Los Angeles-class submarine. Supporting air assets from the USN include the P-8 Poseidon aircraft and Hawker Hunter fighter jets, and two Republic of Singapore Air Force Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopters embarked on RSS Formidable and RSS Intrepid.

The vast training space in the waters off Guam provides the RSN with the opportunity to conduct exercises of substantial scope and complexity, including the conduct of advanced naval warfare with the USN across the full-spectrum of anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare. During the exercise, RSS Formidable intercepted a low-observable, high-speed aerial target flying at a distance with an Aster surface-to-air missile, while RSS Intrepid fired a Harpoon anti-ship missile against a decommissioned USN warship target.

RSN Commander First Flotilla and Commanding Officer of 185 Squadron, Colonel Lim Yu Chuan highlighted the value of the exercise in enhancing professionalism between the two navies. He said, "Exercise Pacific Griffin is a valuable platform for the two navies to strengthen our mutual cooperation and interoperability. With the vast training space in the waters off Guam, the exercise also provides the RSN with the opportunity to conduct high-end exercises of substantial scope and complexity."

"This exercise provides important opportunities for realistic at-sea training with live ordnance, conditions that cannot be duplicated otherwise," added Commodore of the USN's Destroyer Squadron 7, Captain Matthew J. Jerbi. "Training alongside our Singapore partners in a complex exercise like this is invaluable."

First conducted in 2017, Exercise Pacific Griffin highlights the strong navy-to-navy relations between Singapore and the US, as well as the excellent and long-standing bilateral defence relations between both countries. Apart from bilateral exercises, both navies also engage in a wide range of activities, including professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and participation in multilateral exercises. These regular interactions have enhanced interoperability and mutual understanding between the two militaries, and deepened personal and professional ties between their personnel.

RSN frigate RSS Formidable firing an Aster surface-to-air missile in the waters off Guam during Ex Pacific Griffin 2019.

RSN Commander First Flotilla and Commanding Officer of 185 Squadron, Colonel Lim Yu Chuan (left) and USN Commodore of Destroyer Squadron 7, Captain Matthew J. Jerbi (right) officiating at the opening ceremony of Ex Pacific Griffin 2019.

RSS Formidable leading a formation followed by (right to left) USS Gabrielle Giffords, USNS Amelia Earhart, RSS Intrepid, Republic of Singapore Air Force Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter, and (back) USS Momsen, in a photo exercise during Ex Pacific Griffin 2019.

RSN and USN personnel conducting operations planning during Ex Pacific Griffin 2019.