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DPM Teo visits Exercise Wallaby 2010
19 November 2010
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean visited the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops participating in Exercise Wallaby 2010 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), Queensland, Australia, today. Exercise Wallaby 2010 is conducted from 24 Sep to 26 Nov 2010 and involves about 5,200 SAF personnel. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of SAF training in SWBTA.
During his visit, Mr Teo witnessed an integrated live-firing involving air and land platforms such as the F-16 fighter aircraft, Apache AH-64 helicopters and Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, Primus. The integrated live-firing was conducted by Headquarters Guards and the Air-Land Tactical Control Centre.
Speaking after viewing the integrated live-firing, Mr Teo emphasised that Exercise Wallaby validates the SAF's ability to employ a wide range of sensors and shooters in order to coordinate manoeuvres and engage targets with precision. Mr Teo also said that the Wallaby series of exercises was testimony to the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Australia. He added that Singapore appreciated Australia's continued support for SAF's training in SWBTA and said: "It is the 20th year we have been exercising in SWBTA thanks to the courtesy of the Australian Government, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and also the people of Rockhampton. We are very grateful for that. The exercise this year has allowed us to put through several frames of soldiers and allowed us to train integrated exercises, including our Air Force and our Army together. It has been a very valuable exercise."
As part of his official visit to Australia, Mr Teo will also be visiting the Republic of Singapore Air Force Flying Training Institute in the Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce in Perth and meeting with Australian leaders in Canberra. The SAF and the Australian Defence Force interact extensively through multilateral training exercises, visits, professional exchanges, military courses and work in close partnership in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
More Resources
Fact Sheet: Milestones in Singapore-Australia Defence Relations