SAF Concludes Participation in Multinational Exercise Cobra Gold 2023 in Thailand

Exercise Cobra Gold 2023 (XCG23) participants during the Closing Ceremony

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) participated in the multinational Exercise Cobra Gold (XCG) from 27 February to 10 March 2023 alongside 29 other countries, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia and the Republic of Korea. Held in Rayong Province, Thailand, the exercise was co-hosted by the Royal Thai Armed Forces and the United States Indo-Pacific Command. This year marks the 42nd iteration of the exercise and the SAF's 24th year of participation.

Led by Chief Guards Officer, Brigadier-General Low Wilson, the 54-member SAF delegation undertook various roles, including key exercise appointments within the Multinational Force Headquarters, alongside their counterparts from other participating nations. This year's exercise focused on combined joint-operations to deal with traditional and non-traditional threats, as well as planning and coordination for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise. A seven-member team from the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) participated in the Cyber Defence Exercise, where they handled cyber incidents and developed responses to defend an assigned network in various simulated scenarios alongside their counterparts from other participating nations.

A five-member team, comprising combat engineers from the Singapore Army, participated in a multinational Engineer Civic Assistance Programme to construct a multi-purpose building for Ban Mor Mui School in Rayong Province, Thailand.

XCG is one of the largest multinational exercises in the Asia-Pacific region to promote friendship, cooperation, and mutual understanding amongst the participating armed forces. The SAF has been a full participant of the XCG series since 2000.

Military Expert 4 (ME4) Yvonne Tan (left) and ME4 Ho Qi Ming (right) from the Digital and Intelligence Service participating in the Cyber Exercise alongside counterparts from other militaries.

XCG23 participants working together to construct a multi-purpose building for Ban Mor Mui School, as part of the Engineer Civic Assistance Programme.

Captain (Dr) Titus Tan, Medical Officer, participating in the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Field Demonstration.

Representatives from the participating countries at the opening ceremony of XCG23.