On 9 Oct 2021, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) frigate RSS Formidable and missile corvette RSS Vigour conducted a contactless passage exercise (PASSEX) with the Royal Navy (RN)'s Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group comprising the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth, the destroyer HMS Defender, and the United States Navy (USN) destroyer USS The Sullivans.
Conducted in international waters in the southern reaches of the South China Sea, the PASSEX saw ships from the navies conducting a series of drills. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)'s F-16 fighter aircraft also took the opportunity to conduct air training serials with their counterparts from the Queen Elizabeth Carrier Strike Group.
Following the completion of the PASSEX, the HMS Queen Elizabeth called into RSS Singapura - Changi Naval Base. Singapore's Senior Minister of State for Defence Mr Zaqy Mohamad, Chief of Staff – Air Staff BG Lau Boon Ping and Chief of Staff – Naval Staff RADM Edwin Leong were hosted to a visit on board the HMS Queen Elizabeth. All personnel involved in the visit were fully vaccinated and had tested negative for COVID-19 prior to the visit. The visit adhered strictly to prevailing safe management measures.
The RSN conducts regular PASSEXes to strengthen friendships with foreign navies. These professional interactions at sea have enabled the RSN to keep ties warm with our counterparts amidst the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Photos courtesy of CPT Cynthia Tan from RSS Vigour, ME1 Oliver Tan and CPT Aloysius Oh from RSS Formidable, and The Royal Navy.
