Updated: 01/23/2013 02:38 | By Channel NewsAsia

SAF holds annual artillery exercise in New Zealand

SINGAPORE : The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting an annual artillery exercise, codenamed Thunder Warrior, at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand.

About 470 troops from the 21st and 24th Battalions of Singapore Artillery are taking part in this year’s exercise from January 13 to 30.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence Dr Mohamad Maliki Osman and New Zealand Secretary of Defence Helene Quilter were present during the exercise on Tuesday afternoon.

They observed a battalion live—firing exercise involving the Field Howitzer 2000 and the Singapore Self—Propelled Howitzer, Primus.

Exercise Thunder Warrior has been held annually in New Zealand since 1997.

Singapore’s Ministry of Defence said the SAF and the New Zealand Defence Force interact regularly through a wide range of bilateral and multilateral training exercises, professional exchanges and courses.

It said these underscore the close and long—standing defence relations between Singapore and New Zealand.

— CNA/ms