Singapore and Australia Armies Conduct Bilateral Armour Exercise in Australia

The Singapore and Australian Armies are conducting Exercise Matilda, a bilateral armour exercise, from 15 Sep to 5 Oct 2012 at the Mount Bundey Training Area in Darwin, Australia. Exercise Matilda 2012 comprises operational training as well as professional exchanges between both Armies. 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 counterparts from the 1st Armoured Regiment.

Highlighting the value of Exercise Matilda, Commanding Officer of 48 SAR Major Lim Han Yong said, "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."

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. The two armed forces are also working together in close partnership in the multinational reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan.