Fact Sheet: SAF Training in Shoalwater Bay Training Area 2022

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting Exercise Wallaby from 28 August to 11 October 2022 and participating in Exercise Trident from 23 September to 3 October 2022. The exercises are held at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, Australia. Approximately four times the size of Singapore. SWBTA is a valuable overseas training area that allows the SAF to conduct training at a scale, size, and complexity that cannot be done so in Singapore. Such training is critical for the SAF to hone and enhance operational competencies as well as validate capabilities. Under the Singapore-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the SAF is jointly developing training areas with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). Upon completion, both SAF and ADF troops can look forward to enhanced level of access to these training areas, including SWBTA, for a period of 25 years.

To support the exercises, the SAF has deployed a Forward Support Group for the entire duration of Exercise Wallaby, including the pre-exercise preparations from 28 to 30 Aug and post-exercise administration phase from 9 to 11 October. Throughout the exercise, they provide medical, logistical, maintenance, and transportation support to training units. They also serve as the primary custodians of the training area, ensuring that training resources are well-managed and all hazards are cleared.

Exercise Wallaby

Inaugurated in 1990, Exercise Wallaby is the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)'s largest overseas unilateral exercise. This year marks the 32nd Anniversary of Exercise Wallaby and the full-scale resumption of the exercise since COVID-19 disruptions in 2020. Over 4,040 personnel and over 360 platforms1 from the Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) are involved across two main frames:

1. 31 Aug to 20 Sep 2022 – Frame 1. Frame 1 involved the Singapore Army's Armour and Transport units, together with the RSAF's aircraft, Ground-Based Air Defence assets and Air-Land Tactical Control Centre. The 41st Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR) leveraged the open terrain in SWBTA to execute complex manoeuvres under realistic combat situations including a Company-level combat team Armour Live Firing System. 41 SAR also completed Stage 2 of the evaluation conducted by the Army Training Evaluation Centre, to validate their proficiencies as a Battalion. The RSAF conducted integrated missions with the Army including close air support, underslung and troop lift operations by the AH-64D and CH-47F helicopters, as well as integrated C-130 airdrop operations involving 122 Squadron and 3rd SAF Transport Battalion. The RSN and RSAF also conducted a medical evacuation exercise which involved the use of a Fast Craft to transfer a simulated casualty from shore to an RSN Endurance-class Landing Ship Tank for emergency surgery, before an RSAF Chinook helicopter air-lifted the casualty to shore for further medical treatment at a medical facility ashore. Such integrated training allows the SAF to enhance interoperability across air, land and sea domains and hone the operational competencies of units and personnel.

2. 21 Sep to 8 Oct 2022 – Frame 2. Frame 2 involved the Singapore Army's Guards and Army Intelligence units, as well as the RSAF's aircraft. The cross-country terrain of SWBTA allowed the Singapore Army to put the manoeuvrability of the Lightstrike Vehicle Mark II to the test, and for Guardsmen to conduct live-firing of the SPIKE Anti-Tank Guided Missile. The RSAF's Heron 1 UAV and the Singapore Army's VELOCE15 miniUAV - operated by the 11th Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence Battalion – performed Air Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions, with newly-developed data analytics and artificial intelligence tools in support. Together with the Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), AH-64D helicopters will make full use of the vast airspace of SWBTA to conduct cooperative lasing in support of live-firing missions. The RSAF will also continue to conduct integrated missions with the Army including Deck Landing Practices and vertical replenishments with the CH-47F helicopters, as well as close air support with the AH-64D helicopters.

Exercise Trident

Exercise Trident, the flagship bilateral exercise between the SAF and the ADF, features a battalion-level amphibious operation involving personnel and assets from both armed forces. This year's edition will involve two Landing Ships Tank (LSTs) from the RSN (RSS Endurance and RSS Persistence), and a Landing Helicopter Dock (LHD) from the Royal Australian Navy (HMAS Adelaide). Troops from 3rd Battalion, Singapore Guards and 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment will execute a coordinated ship-to-shore projection via Fast Craft while AH-64D helicopters provide air support over the area of operations, and CH-47F helicopters support troop lift and vertical replenishment operations. This exercise strengthens cooperation and coordination between both armed forces, and underscores the commitment from both countries to enhance bilateral defence relations.

¹ The Singapore Army is participating with more than 335 platforms and over 2680 personnel. The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is participating with two Landing Ships Tank and more than 560 personnel. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is participating with over 25 platforms and over 800 personnel.