Singapore and German Armies Conducted Bilateral Live-Firing in Oberlausitz, Germany

Service personnel from the Singapore Army and the German Army successfully concluded the bilateral live-firing exercise, Exercise Panzer Strike, in the Oberlausitz Military Training Area, Germany.

The Singapore Army's Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tank conducting live-firing as part of Exercise Panzer Strike.

Personnel from the Singapore Army conducting a brief on Company Operations Order.

Exercise Panzer Strike is an armour training and live-firing exercise conducted by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) annually over two training windows in the Oberlausitz Military Training Area (OMTA), Germany. During the spring training frame from 8 to 12 March 2025, the SAF successfully conducted a bilateral live-firing exercise with the Bundeswehr (German Armed Forces). This exercise involved approximately 100 personnel from 1st Company, 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR) with German Army counterparts from the Panzerlehrbataillon 93. The bilateral exercise also included professional exchanges with discussions on Standard Operating Procedures, as well as Tactics, Techniques and Procedures.

The spring and autumn training frames will involve 14 Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), 14 Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs), and service personnel from 48 SAR and Armour Training Institute. They will undergo a series of live-firings with the Leopard 2SG MBTs and the Hunter AFVs, to hone their skills in gunnery and manoeuvre.

This year marks the 16th edition of the exercise, which was first conducted in 2009. The large training space in OMTA, a quarter of the size of Singapore, allows the Singapore Army to execute more complex missions on a larger scale and in an integrated manner. Training can be conducted more efficiently with concurrent live-firing of up to four ranges for the armoured units. The opportunity to train in Germany has strengthened the professionalism and capabilities of the SAF Armour Formation, and reinforced professional ties between the Singapore Army and the German Armed Forces.

Exercise Panzer Strike underscores the strong and substantive defence relations between Singapore and Germany. The two countries interact regularly through high-level visits and dialogues, military exchanges, cross-attendance of professional courses and technological collaboration. These interactions have reinforced the professional ties between the two defence establishments.