Singapore Navy Participates in High-end Naval Warfare Training at Multinational Rim of the Pacific Exercise 2018

One of the two Harpoon missiles launched from the Republic of Singapore (RSN)'s Formidable-class frigate RSS Tenacious, in a Simultaneous Time-on-Target Harpoon surface-to-surface live missile firing conducted by the RSN.

The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)'s Formidable-class frigate RSS Tenacious, with an embarked Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter, is participating in high-end naval warfare training alongside multinational warships at the Rim of the Pacific (Ex RIMPAC) Exercise. Held in the waters off Hawaii from 28 June to 3 August 2018 (Singapore time), this year's exercise involves assets from 24 other countries including 45 ships, five submarines, about 200 aircraft and 25,000 personnel. The RSN has undertaken leadership roles as Commander Task Group[1] for anti-submarine warfare, as well as the Commander Task Unit in the Expeditionary Strike Group in this year’s exercise. 

Comprising RSS Tenacious, Australia's HMAS Toowoomba, Malaysia's KD Lekiu, Peru's BAP Ferre, South Korea's ROKS Dae Jo Young, and the United States (US)' USS Sterett, the RSN's Task Unit will conduct training and scenario-based missions across the surface, air and sub-surface dimensions of naval warfare. Also taking on duties as Commander Task Group, the RSN will lead Peru's BAP Ferre, Chile's CNS Lynch, the US' USS Lake Erie and USS William P Lawrence, as well as multinational helicopters and aircraft in the conduct of anti-submarine warfare training. The RSN will also participate in a multinational escort of five mission-critical ships four countries, to defend against submarine attacks.

On 20 July (Singapore time), RSS Tenacious also conducted a successful Simultaneous Time-on-Target (STOT) Harpoon surface-to-surface live missile firing, which involved the firing of two missiles to hit a target at the same time. 

Commanding Officer of RSS Tenacious, Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Lee Jan, highlighted the value of the RSN's participation in large-scale exercises like Ex RIMPAC. He said, "Exercise RIMPAC is a useful platform for the RSN to train with established navies from around the world and hone our warfare capabilities. With the involvement of many air and sea platforms, participation in this exercise allows the RSN to improve our interoperability with partner navies and to better understand how they operate. Most importantly, the exercise gives us the opportunity to forge friendships and build closer cooperation with the multinational navies involved." 

Commenting on RSS Tenacious' participation in the exercise, Commander of the US Third Fleet Vice Admiral John D. Alexander said, “We are all maritime nations, we all prosper through trade, and the majority of the trade goes through the Indo-Pacific region. Exercise RIMPAC is an opportunity to build invaluable relationships and partnerships. The relationships we are building here with Singapore and many others will enable us to work together to provide disaster relief, combat piracy, or conduct a wide range of maritime contingency operations when the need arises." 

Hosted by the United States Navy, the biennial Ex RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise. This is the sixth Ex RIMPAC that the RSN has participated in over the last 10 years. 

[1] Task Groups and Task Units are components of a naval task force organised by the Commander of a Task Force at the different levels, in order of scale of assets and span of control. A Task Force is the highest level unit who is responsible for assigning a mission to a Task Group. A Task Group, which consists of several Task Units, will then assign a Task Unit to execute a specific mission. 

RSN personnel conducting a Simultaneous Time-on-Target Harpoon surface-to-surface live missile firing in the RSS Tenacious' Combat Information Centre.

More Resources

Fact Sheet: The Republic of Singapore Navy's Formidable-class Frigates and Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk Naval Helicopters