RSN Conducts Successful Missile Firing

Senior Minister of State for Defence Chan Chun Sing (third from right), accompanied by Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng (right) and Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral Timothy Lo (second from right), witnessing the live-firing onboard RSS Intrepid.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducted a live-firing of a Harpoon missile in the South China Sea earlier today, as part of the 19th annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise which Singapore is conducting with the United States. The missile, fired by an RSN Maritime Patrol Aircraft against a surface target, successfully hit the target. This year's exercise also involves participation from the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the United States Marine Corps.

The exercise was witnessed by Senior Minister of State for Defence Chan Chun Sing, who noted the value of the CARAT series of bilateral maritime exercises, which the SAF and the United States Navy (USN) have conducted annually since 1995. "Not only has the exercise strengthened the overall defence relationship between Singapore and the US, it has also significantly enhanced the level of interoperability between both navies," said Mr Chan. USN Commander Logistics Group Western Pacific Rear Admiral Thomas F. Carney added, "Though our navies work together regularly, we look forward to the opportunity to participate in more complex maritime operations each year during the at-sea phase of CARAT Singapore."

Also present to witness the exercise was Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng. The exercise is presently ongoing and will conclude on 26 July 2013.