SINGAPORE, 1st Oct 2024 – The Opening Ceremony for Exercise BERSAMA LIMA 2024 (BL24) was held at the Fleet Auditorium, Multinational Operations and Exercise Centre (MOEC), Changi Naval Base.
The Opening Ceremony of Exercise BL24 was officiated by the Chief of Singapore Armed Forces, Vice Admiral Aaron Beng Yao Cheng (RSN). The Chief of Defence Force (CDF), General Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Mohammad bin Ab Rahman, along with representatives of the service chiefs from each country, also attended to witness the ceremony.
Exercise BL24 is an annual combined exercise among the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) countries: Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. Based at MOEC, CNB Singapore, Exercise BL24 will be conducted as a Field Training Exercise from 30th September 2024 to 18th October 2024 in the FPDA Exercise Area, covering parts of the South China Sea, as well as land and air spaces over Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.
This year’s exercise involves the participation of 5 ships, 2 maritime helicopters, 3 maritime surveillance aircraft, 10 support aircraft, 20 fighter jets, 2 AEW&C aircraft, 4 Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) units, and personnel from all three branches of the armed forces of the FPDA countries. In line with the defensive nature of the FPDA agreement, this exercise is not a threat to the surrounding nations but is a planned training exercise that reflects the professionalism of the armed forces of the FPDA countries.
The CDF took the time to meet with all the MAF (Malaysian Armed Forces) participants to provide guidance and directives to ensure an effective and safe execution of the exercise. He also officiated the wearing of the BL24 exercise patch and presented mementos to the heads of each country’s delegation.
Also present were Commander IADS, Air Vice-Marshal Christie Nathan Mark, Deputy Chief of Air Force Lt. General Dato’ Sri Muhammad Norazlan bin Aris TUDM, representing the Chief of Air Force; Assistant Chief of Staff for Operations and Training Maj. Gen. Datuk Malek Razak bin Sulaiman, Assistant Chief of Staff for Defence Planning Maj. Gen. Datuk Zulkifli bin Hj. Hamid TUDM, the representative of the Chief Defence Force United Kingdom RADM Andrew Betton, and Defense Attaches from New Zealand and Australia.