The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) recently concluded a bilateral live-firing exercise with the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces) at the Oberlausitz Military Training Area (OMTA), Germany, as part of Exercise Panzer Strike. The bilateral live-firing exercise involved soldiers from the 3rd Company, 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR), and their German Army counterparts from the Panzerlehrbataillon 93.

This year marks a new milestone for the Exercise Panzer Strike series, as this is the first time that the SAF is training in the OMTA, which is a quarter of the size of Singapore. The area allows the SAF to train more efficiently, enabling concurrent live-firing of up to four ranges for armoured units. The opportunity to train in Germany has, over the years, helped to strengthen the professionalism and capabilities of the SAF Armour formation, as well as reinforce the growing ties between the SAF personnel and their German counterparts.

The eighth in the series, this year's Exercise Panzer Strike is conducted over two training windows in Spring (2 March to 20 April 2016) and Autumn (14 September to 26 October 2016). It involves more than 1,000 servicemen and trainees from 48 SAR and the Armour Training Institute, as well as 13 Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks and 16 Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Held since 2009, Exercise Panzer Strike underscores the strong and growing defence ties between Singapore and Germany. Both countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement in September 2005 to formalise defence interactions, and interact frequently through high-level visits, military exchanges, professional courses, policy dialogues and technology collaboration.