SINGAPORE: The armies of Singapore and Australia are conducting Exercise Matilda, a bilateral armour exercise in Darwin, Australia.
Exercise Matilda 2012, which is being held from September 15 to October 5 at the Mount Bundey Training Area, comprises operational training as well as professional exchanges.
About 100 personnel from the 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR) and their Leopard 2SG Main Battle Tanks are involved in a bilateral manoeuvre exercise with their Australian Defence Force (ADF) counterparts from the 1st Armoured Regiment.
"Participating in this exercise with the ADF provides our tank commanders and operators an excellent opportunity to sharpen their tank gunnery and manoeuvre skills, and also allows us to exchange professional knowledge with the ADF," said Major Lim Han Yong, Commanding Officer of 48 SAR.
Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said on Wednesday that the exercise is a testament to the close and long—standing defence relations between Singapore and Australia.
The SAF and the ADF interact extensively through bilateral and multilateral training exercises, visits, professional exchanges and military courses.
They are also working together in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.
— CNA/fl
