The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) participated in the bilateral maritime exercise, Exercise Singaroo, from 14 to 25 September 2018. The closing ceremony was held earlier today at RSS Singapura – Changi Naval Base and was co-officiated by Deputy Commanding Officer of the RSN's Missile Corvette Squadron Senior Lieutenant Colonel Nicholas Tan and Commanding Officer of HMAS Stuart Commander Chris Leece. 

This year's Exercise Singaroo is the nineteenth in the series since its inauguration in 1995. The exercise was conducted in Darwin, Australia and in the southern reaches of the South China Sea. The RSN participated with two Victory-class missile corvettes, RSS Valiant and RSS Vigour, embarked with ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The RAN deployed one Anzac-class frigate HMAS Stuart, supported by a replenishment oiler HMAS Sirius. During the sea phase, participating ships and air assets conducted naval surface warfare serials, anti-air gunnery firings, communication exercises and encounter exercises where the UAVs were deployed to provide constant localised surveillance and threat identification.  

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Commanding Officer of RSS Valiant, Lieutenant Colonel Tan Say Yong said, "Exercise Singaroo is the mainstay exercise for the RSN and RAN. The exercise allows us to build on our friendship and enhance interoperability between our two navies." 

Exercise Singaroo is one of many bilateral military interactions between the Singapore Armed Forces and the Australian Defence Force, underscoring the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Australia. In addition to bilateral and multilateral exercises, both armed forces also interact frequently through high-level visits, professional exchanges and military courses.