SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the United States Navy (USN) have concluded the first Exercise Pacific Griffin in waters off Guam, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement on Monday (Sept 4).
Part of efforts by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to explore new training spaces, the exercise, held from Aug 19 to Sept 2, allowed the RSN to conduct high-end exercises of substantial complexity in the vast waters of Guam.
Planning for the exercise, which involved over 850 personnel from both countries, began last year, Mindef said.
The RSN took part with frigates RSS Stalwart and RSS Supreme, and Endurance-class landing ship tank RSS Endurance.
The USN sent littoral combat ship USS Coronado, Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Benfold, and underway replenishment oiler USNS Pecos.
Air assets that supported the exercise were the USN's P-8 Poseidon aircraft and Hawker Hunter fighter jets, and a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Sikorsky S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter.
Exercise Pacific Griffin featured advanced warfare training between the two navies, comprising anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare operations.
The RSN also conducted its own live-firings at the venue.
Colonel Saw Shi Tat, Commander of the First Flotilla and Commanding Officer of 185 Squadron, said the exercise helped the two navies work together more effectively.
"The operating environment in Guam gave us the opportunity to hone our edge and push our operational envelopes. It also allowed us to operate with our friends and partners from around the world, including the USN."
Commodore of the USN's Destroyer Squadron 7 Captain Lex Walker acknowledged the good relationship between the two navies.
"Exercise Pacific Griffin provides a unique opportunity for both navies to interact and engage in a broader and more complex range of maritime scenarios and operations.
"The complexity and sophistication of Exercise Pacific Griffin is a direct result of the many accomplishments and lessons we've learned from working together with the RSN for many years," he said.
