A ceremony was held at Singapore’s Changi Naval Base on July 29morning to launch the 20th Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness andTraining (CARAT) exercise.
Channel News Asiaquoted Vice-Admiral Robert Thomas of the US Navy (USN) Seventh Fleet assaying at the opening ceremony that the joint exercise is in line withthe US’s “rebalancing” of forces in the Asia-Pacific and itscommitment to freedom of access on the seas in the region.
According to the Singapore Defence Ministry, Exercise CARAT 2014,conducted from July 29 to August 8, will focus on sharpeningconventional maritime warfare capabilities such as anti-air,anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, as well as maritime airoperations.
This year's exercise will feature for the first timea combined torpedo firing by the RSN Formidable-class frigate RSSStalwart, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Sikorsky S-70B Seahawknaval helicopter and a United States Navy (USN) MH-60R Naval Helicopter.
The event will involve a total of 1400personnel from both countries, together with six ships, a submarine, anaval helicopter and eight aircraft from the RSN and RSAF as well asthree ships, a submarine and four naval helicopters from the USN and theUS Marine Corps.
Exercise CARAT 2014 will see the inaugural participation of the USN's P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft.-VNA
Channel News Asiaquoted Vice-Admiral Robert Thomas of the US Navy (USN) Seventh Fleet assaying at the opening ceremony that the joint exercise is in line withthe US’s “rebalancing” of forces in the Asia-Pacific and itscommitment to freedom of access on the seas in the region.
According to the Singapore Defence Ministry, Exercise CARAT 2014,conducted from July 29 to August 8, will focus on sharpeningconventional maritime warfare capabilities such as anti-air,anti-surface and anti-submarine operations, as well as maritime airoperations.
This year's exercise will feature for the first timea combined torpedo firing by the RSN Formidable-class frigate RSSStalwart, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) Sikorsky S-70B Seahawknaval helicopter and a United States Navy (USN) MH-60R Naval Helicopter.
The event will involve a total of 1400personnel from both countries, together with six ships, a submarine, anaval helicopter and eight aircraft from the RSN and RSAF as well asthree ships, a submarine and four naval helicopters from the USN and theUS Marine Corps.
Exercise CARAT 2014 will see the inaugural participation of the USN's P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft.-VNA
