Article Posted on : - Oct 12, 2010

A trio of F/A-18 Hornets in close formation as they transit to Malaysia for Exercise Bersama Padu 2010. Photo: Australian MoD.

KUALA LUMPUR (BNS): Forces from Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the United Kingdom have joined together under the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) to participate in Exercise Bersama Padu (BP10).

The three-week long exercise (11th to 29th October) hosted by the Royal Malaysian Armed Forces (RMAF), will take place at various locations across the South China Sea and on the Malaysian Peninsula.

The main aim of BP10 is to exercise force elements from maritime, land and air forces from member nations of the FDPA, in the defence of the Malaysian Peninsula and Singapore in order to enhance interoperability among assigned forces.

HMA Ships Success, Tobruk, Toowoomba, Arunta, Australian Clearance Dive Team One from HMAS Waterhen Sydney, eight F/A-18s from No 3 Squadron RAAF Williamtown NSW, an Australian Army platoon from RMAF Butterworth and around 60 support staff from across the ADF will participate in the exercise.

"The FPDA countries shared a common interest in the security and stability of the region, and the exercise would enhance the interoperability of the combined air, ground and naval forces of member nations," Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said in an Australian MoD news release.

"The FPDA was established 39 years ago and continues to be an integral part of the regional security architecture because of its ability to adapt to the changing security environment," he explained.

For the first time a ship-to-shore landing had been included in a FPDA Field Training Exercise. An Australian Army platoon will join with a Malaysian Army platoon in the exercise, using naval ships to lodge these forces ashore.

BP10 would build on previous FPDA exercises and continue to develop and implement procedures that would cultivate ties between partner nations, the release said.