HMS Spey joins show of force as she represents Royal Navy on Ex Bersama Lima
Royal Navy warship HMS Spey has been demonstrating force and unity with four Asia-Pacific nations at a major annual military exercise.
Exercise Bersama Lima 2024 is a Five Power Defence Arrangement (FDPA) exercise involving assets and personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK.
This year's exercise is hosted by Singapore and involves more than 2,000 personnel, 38 aircraft, five ships, four ground-based air defence systems, more than 250 ground troops, and four dive teams.
Running until 18 October, it sees naval assets conducting serials such as manoeuvring, naval gun-firing, air defence and diving, while the air forces exercise combined air operations, complex air defence scenarios, and air-land training in the form of troop lift missions.
The land forces are conducting professional exchanges and force integration training that will culminate in a field exercise involving both jungle and urban environments.
The aims of the exercise are to strengthen regional security, demonstrate unity, improve interoperability and provide professional development for personnel.
The concluding days involve integrated drills with aircraft, warships, and ground troops, designed to simulate complex defence scenarios.
These final operations aim to reinforce regional security and focus on command coordination, targeting, and combined response strategies under simulated combat conditions.
Admiral Kwan Hon Chuong, exercise director and Republic of Singapore Navy Fleet Commander Rear, highlighted the importance of the exercise.
"Exercise Bersama Lima 2024 has been designed to deepen the strong partnership and interoperability among our militaries," he said.
"I am confident that all our participants will find great professional value and forge friendships through the exercise."
The FPDA was formed in 1971 and has evolved over the years to adapt to the changing regional security landscape.
HMS Spey is permanently deployed to the region, providing assistance with anti-smuggling, fishery protection, border patrol and counter-terrorism operations.
In a post on X, Spey's team described the displays at Ex Bersama Lima as "formidable".
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