News Releases
SAF Participates in FPDA Exercise
9 June 2018
This article has been migrated from an earlier version of the site and may display formatting inconsistencies.
Commanding Officer (CO) of 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, (3 Gds) Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Lew Tze Soon (third from left) discussing operation plans with Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) counterparts during the command post exercise in Exercise Suman Warrior 2018.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in Exercise Suman Warrior, a Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) land exercise, from 28 May to 8 June 2018. This year's Exercise Suman Warrior, the 27th in the series, saw representatives from the FPDA countries participate in a command post exercise for the planning of land-focused operations. Hosted by the British Army in Wiltshire, United Kingdom (UK), the exercise involved over 150 personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.
Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards, Lieutenant Colonel Lew Tze Soon led the SAF delegation. He said, "Exercise Suman Warrior is a valuable platform for professional military exchange among the FPDA countries. The exercise offers an excellent opportunity to train together and learn from one another, enhancing interoperability among the FPDA countries. Most importantly, through our interactions with our FPDA counterparts, we have built strong professional networks and lasting friendships."
Formed in 1971, the FPDA was established for the external defence of Singapore and Malaysia during their early days of independence. It has since evolved over the years to become a constructive, transparent and peaceful arrangement that is an integral part of the regional security architecture. Other than Suman Warrior, the SAF interacts regularly with FPDA counterparts through other FPDA exercises such as Exercise Bersama Shield and Exercise Bersama Lima. These interactions facilitate the sharing of knowledge and enhance the interoperability between the various armed forces.
CO 3 Gds LTC Lew (first from left) joining representatives of other FPDA nations at the opening ceremony of Exercise Suman Warrior 2018 in Wiltshire, United Kingdom.