Second Minister for Defence Visits Artillery Exercise in New Zealand

Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing visiting the SAF troops participating in Exercise Thunder Warrior in New Zealand.

Second Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing visited Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops training in an artillery exercise, codenamed Thunder Warrior, at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand today. During his visit, Mr Chan witnessed a battalion live-firing exercise involving the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer (SSPH), Primus, and interacted with SAF troops participating in the exercise.

The exercise, conducted from 13 to 25 January 2014, involves about 400 personnel from the 21st and 24th Battalions, Singapore Artillery (SA). In addition, Gunners from the Royal Regiment of New Zealand Artillery, New Zealand Defence Force (NZDF) had joined the Singapore Artillery in a bilateral segment of the exercise to operate and fire the SSPH.

Exercise Thunder Warrior has been conducted annually in New Zealand since 1997, and underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and New Zealand. The SAF and the NZDF interact extensively through a wide range of bilateral and multilateral training exercises, professional exchanges, visits and courses. Both armed forces also interact regularly under the ambit of the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus. These interactions have helped enhance the interoperability and mutual understanding among the personnel of the two armed forces.

The Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, Primus, participating in a live-firing exercise during Exercise Thunder Warrior.