Able Seaman Darren Young speaks with Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Lieutenant Raagavan during a simulated boarding on RMN ship KD Kasturi during Exercise Bersama Shield 2018. Photo by Able Seaman Steven Thompson.

Exercise Bersama Shield 18 wraps up

16/05/2018 Posted by Brian Hartigan 4260 Views 0 Comments Bersama Shield

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) took to the sea and skies of Malaysia and Singapore to enhance interoperability and strengthen the professional relationships of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) nations.

CAPTION: Able Seaman Darren Young speaks with Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) Lieutenant Raagavan during a simulated boarding on RMN ship KD Kasturi during Exercise Bersama Shield 2018. Photo by Able Seaman Steven Thompson.

Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom participated with Australia in the bi-annual Exercise Bersama Shield 18, focusing on the conduct of a combined joint maritime, land and air operations in a multi-threat environment.

Australia’s Chief of Joint Operations Vice Admiral David Johnston said the ADF’s ongoing support to Exercise Bersama Shield allowed Australia to build on its already strong relationship with the FPDA nations.

“The FPDA has fostered successful, practical cooperation among its members for close to 50 years,” Vice Admiral Johnston said.

“Exercise Bersama Shield demonstrates the continued commitment by all members to pursuing closer interoperability.”

The exercise involved approximately 440 ADF personnel, Royal Australian Air Force AP-3C Orion maritime patrol and King Air utility aircraft, and Royal Australian Navy ships HMAS Toowoomba and HMAS Success.

Exercise Bersama Shield 18 was conducted from 27 April to 15 May.

The next exercise in the series, Exercise Bersama Lima 18, will be run in October.

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