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Thirty-seven New Zealand Defence Force personnel have joined counterparts from Singapore, United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Australia in a major Five Powers defence exercise in Singapore.
The group was welcomed to Singapore by the Chief of the Singaporean Defence Force, Lieutenant General Neo Kian Hong, at the commencement of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) Exercise, called Suman Protector 2012.
Suman Protector is a Command Post Exercise which focuses on the operational training of a Combined Joint Task Force in the conduct of Joint operations in a multi-threat environment. The FPDA generated Combined Joint Task Force will plan for a medium scale conventional combined and joint military campaign, including the planning for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operation.
"Suman Protector 2012 is the culminating exercise of the five-year FPDA exercise cycle, and it provides a unique training opportunity in a complex and challenging multinational environment," says Senior National Officer for the NZ Defence Force Contingent, Colonel Phil McKee.
"Exercising with the other FPDA nations of Singapore, United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Australia enables us to enhance interoperability and build professional relationships."
Personnel from New Zealand’s Navy, Army and Air Force are contributing to the exercise, to gain the benefit of working alongside the other FPDA nations.
"FPDA was originally established in 1971 to provide for the air defence of the peninsula of Malaysia and Singapore. In the face of a changing security environment FPDA has adapted to meet the needs of member countries, and to play an important role in the regional security architecture," says Col McKee.
Suman Protector 2012 exercise scenario runs from 8-24 October 2012.