Minister of State for Defence Visits Exercise Panzer Strike in Germany

Minister of State for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman (third from left), flanked by Chief of Staff, General Staff Brigadier-General Lim Hock Yu (to his left), speaking to officer cadets from the Armour Officer Cadet Course.

Minister of State for Defence, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman, visited the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops participating in Exercise Panzer Strike yesterday at the NATO-Bergen Training Area, Germany. During his visit, Dr Maliki witnessed the bilateral live-firing exercise between soldiers from the 1st Company, 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (SAR) and their German Army counterparts from the Panzerlehrbattaillon 93. He also interacted with SAF and German troops participating in the exercise.

Giving his thoughts on the exercise, Dr Maliki emphasised the importance of overseas training in providing rigorous and realistic training opportunities for the SAF to hone its operational readiness. He said, "These exercises provide an opportunity for our servicemen to be challenged and to build confidence in the machines and equipment that they use. The use of this training area, which is nearly half the size of Singapore, optimises our training efforts and enhances the SAF's operational readiness."

Established in 2009, this year's exercise is the seventh in the series. Conducted over two training windows in the Spring (6 April to 22 May 2015) and Autumn (28 September to 5 November 2015), it involves about 950 personnel from 48 SAR and the Armour Training Institute, 14 Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks and 16 Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles. The opportunity to train in Germany has helped to build up the professionalism and capabilities of the SAF Armour Formation, as well as strengthen personal and professional ties between the SAF and their German counterparts.

Dr Maliki also met with German Parliamentary State Secretary for Defence Dr Ralf Brauksiepe today in Berlin, where both parties reaffirmed the strong bilateral defence relationship. Dr Maliki also conveyed Singapore’s appreciation for Germany's support towards the SAF's training.

Singapore and Germany interact regularly in a range of defence interactions, such as visits, military exchanges, professional courses, policy dialogues and technology collaboration. Both countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in September 2005 to formalise their defence interactions.

The Singapore Army's Leopard 2-SG Main Battle Tank firing during a bilateral live firing exercise.

Dr Maliki and German Parliamentary State Secretary for Defence Dr Ralf Brauksiepe reaffirming the strong bilateral defence relationship between both countries.