Senior Minister of State (SMS) for Defence Mr Heng Chee How attended the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) Commemorative Ceremony earlier today in Queensland, Australia.

The ceremony commemorated the completion of the expanded SWBTA, which has been jointly developed by Australia and Singapore since 2016 for the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF)’s military training activities. This marks a significant milestone under the Treaty on Military Training and Training Area Development in Australia, which was a key element of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between both countries.

Mr Heng said, “The Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force share a long history of cooperation and exchanges. The completion of this expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area is yet another historic milestone for both defence establishments. It is a tangible symbol of the abiding trust between us, and elevates the bilateral defence relationship as we look forward to commemorating the 60th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations next year”. He emphasised the importance of the high-end training that can be conducted with the state-of-the-art facilities at the SWBTA for both Armed Forces, and said, “The expanded Shoalwater Bay Training Area is five times the size of Singapore. It is a high-quality training area that uniquely enables both the Singapore Armed Forces and Australian Defence Force to hone our respective operational capabilities and readiness. The project also includes the establishment of state-of-the-art facilities such as the Combined Arms Air-Land Ranges and Urban Operations Live-Firing Facilities, which will allow for the conduct of training necessary to generate warfighting capabilities fit for the future battlefield. Both our armed forces will benefit greatly from these facilities now and in the years to come”. 

Secretary of the Department of Defence of Australia Mr Greg Moriarty said, “The completion of these works is the latest milestone in our nation’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and this is now a world-class military training facility because the Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force are continuing to build the complexity and the sophistication of the exercises and the activities that we do together… We acknowledge and appreciate the support for each other’s training, and the access enhances our ability to strengthen our security and advances our shared interests in maintaining regional stability”. 

As part of the visit, Mr Heng flew on board the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s CH-47F Chinook helicopter to view the new facilities within the expanded SWBTA. Mr Heng also witnessed the integrated ship-to-shore projection component of Exercise Trident, the signature bilateral exercise between both Armed Forces, and interacted with SAF and ADF personnel who participated in the exercise.

Mr Heng expressed appreciation for the support from the Australian government and local community for SAF’s training at SWBTA and said, “Next year, we are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations… We could not have done this here in Australia without the support and partnership of the local community as well, so we deeply appreciate that.” 

This year marks the 34th year of the SAF’s training at SWBTA, which is testament to the strong defence relationship between Singapore and Australia. The SAF and the ADF share a long history of military cooperation, with extensive interactions that include high-level visits, cross-attendance of courses, professional exchanges, and the conduct of bilateral and multilateral exercises. These interactions anchor bilateral defence cooperation and deepen the rapport between both armed forces.