Singapore and Indonesian Armies Strengthen Bilateral Defence Ties through Exercise Chandrapura

The Singapore Army’s Chief of Staff-General Staff, Brigadier General Wong Shi Ming (left), and the Indonesian Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Muhammad Saleh Mustafa (right) jointly inspecting the troops formed up for the closing ceremony of Exercise Chandrapura 2026.

Soldiers from the SAF Commandos and TNI KOPASSUS performing Urban Operations combat drills as part of Exercise Chandrapura 2026. 

Soldiers from the SAF Commandos and TNI KOPASSUS executing a static line parachute jump.

A soldier from TNI KOPASSUS executing a heli fast-roping drill as part of Exercise Chandrapura 2026.

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) 1st Commando Battalion and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS) successfully concluded the 32^nd edition of Exercise Chandrapura (XCP) held from 1 to 6 July 2026 in Singapore.

Participants exchanged professional knowledge on commando tactics, techniques and planning procedures. This culminated in a Field Training Exercise (FTX) at SAFTI City, where both armies jointly launched an attack on an enemy objective. Through these shared experiences, including close quarter battle training, fast-roping, rappelling training and an airborne static line jump, soldiers from both armies forged closer ties and enhanced mutual understanding. Participants also exchanged airborne wings, symbolic of the mutual respect and camaraderie between the two forces.

The closing ceremony of XCP 2026 was co-officiated by the Singapore Army’s Chief of Staff - General Staff, Brigadier General (BG) Wong Shi Ming and the Indonesian Army’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General (LG) Muhammad Saleh Mustafa. Speaking at the ceremony, BG Wong reaffirmed the enduring partnership between the Singapore Army commandos and the TNI KOPASSUS. He said, “This exercise reflects the strong and growing relationship between our two elite forces, built through years of close interaction and shared experiences. Today, the participants stand before us as a testament to this enduring friendship. The true strength of this partnership lies in the friendships and trust built between our soldiers. I hope the bonds forged over these few days will endure long after this exercise and continue to strengthen the relationship between our forces for many years to come."

First conducted in 1994, the exercise underscores the close and long-standing defence relationship between Singapore and Indonesia. Beyond bilateral exercises, both armies also engage regularly through high-level visits, professional exchanges, and the cross-attendance of military courses.