SAF Concludes Participation in Multinational Exercise Cobra Gold 2020 in Thailand

Representatives from the participating countries at the opening ceremony of Exercise Cobra Gold 2020

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in Exercise Cobra Gold from 25 February to 6 March 2020 in Phitsanulok, Thailand. The exercise was co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command (US INDOPACOM). This year marks the SAF's 21st year of participation in the exercise.

Exercise Cobra Gold 2020 focused on the coordination of multinational Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. The SAF's Changi Regional HADR Coordination Centre (RHCC) and the US INDOPACOM's Center for Excellence in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance jointly facilitated discussions on the regional HADR architecture and mechanisms for effective and efficient coordination of disaster response. This year's Exercise Cobra Gold also include a command post exercise, a field training exercise, and a cyber exercise.

A 55-member SAF contingent, led by Chief Guards Officer Brigadier-General Seet Uei Lim, undertook various roles within the Multinational Combined Task Force, alongside their counterparts from the other participating nations. In addition, a five-member team of combat engineers from the Singapore Army also participated in a multinational Engineer Civic Assistance Program to construct a community hall and activity centre for the Ban Krang School, situated in Phitsanulok Province, Thailand.

Exercise Cobra Gold is one of the largest multinational exercises in the Asia-Pacific region. In its 39th iteration, the annual exercise promotes friendship, interoperability, and mutual understanding amongst the participating armed forces. The SAF has been a full participant of this exercise since 2000.

Combat Engineers from the Singapore Army working with their counterparts from United States and Thailand in the multinational Engineer Civic Assistance Program.

Participating armed forces extricating a simulated casualty during the Field Training Exercise component of the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief exercise.