By ANTARA News,
Singapore : Singapore’s Navy is participating for the first time in the “Rim of the Pacific” exercise with 20,000 personnel from the maritime forces of nine other countries, the Navy said on Sunday.
Hosted by the US Navy, the exercise consists of an onshore planning phase as well as a 22-day sea phase off the coast of Hawaii.
Singapore dispatched the RSS Steadfast, a frigate, to join the 34 ships, six submarines and 150 aircraft from Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Peru, the UK and the United States, a navy statement was quoted by DPA as saying.
The exercise started June 27 and continues through July 31.
The RSS Steadfast has been involved in “combined anti-submarine and air defence exercises” with the other participants and “successfully carried out a harpoon anti-ship missile live-firing off the coast of Hawaii,” validating the frigate’s ability to conduct sustained sea operations.
“This large and complex exercise, conducted thousands of miles from Singapore, is a true test of the endurance and sustainability of the ship and its crew to perform under demanding operational conditions over a prolonged period,” said Lieutenant Colonel Seah Poh Yeen, the Steadfast’s commanding officer.