Article Posted on : - Jul 07, 2010

Singapore Navy’s Landing Ship Tank RSS Persistence. Photo: Singapore MoD.

SINGAPORE (BNS): The Singapore and US navies’ annual bilateral exercise CARAT 2010 has begun from Changi Naval Base on Monday.

Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the United States Navy (USN) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) have joined to participate in the 16th Singapore-US Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training exercise (CARAT) starting from 5th to 19th July, 2010.

The exercise is mainly focused to hone the maritime capabilities such as competencies in anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare, as well as maritime air operations of both the countries.

The feature of this year exercise is a MISTRAL missile, which will be fired by the RSN Landing Ship Tank RSS Persistence against air drone targets. Submariners from the RSN and the USN will be operating together in a submarine tracking exercise.

SAF has participated with nine ships, including frigates, missile corvettes, a submarine, 12 aircraft, including fighters and maritime patrol aircraft.

The USN and USCG has brought five ships, including destroyers, a submarine, four aircraft comprising helicopters and early warning aircraft.

A total of 1,400 personnel from both the countries are involved in this exercise.

Conducted since 1995, this series of annual bilateral maritime exercises aims to enhance the interoperability and professional cooperation between the participating forces of Singapore and the US navies.