The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have concluded a bilateral live-firing exercise with the Bundeswehr at the Oberlausitz Military Training Area (OMTA), Germany, as part of Exercise Panzer Strike 2018.

Soldiers of the 3rd Company, 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR), with Leopard 2 MBTS from the 10th Panzer Division (Picture source: MINDEF Singapore)

The bilateral live-firing exercise involved 220 soldiers from the 3rd Company, 48th Battalion Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR), and their German Army counterparts comprising a tank battalion from the 10th Panzer Division.

The tenth in the series, this year's Exercise Panzer Strike will see approximately 750 and 500 SAF soldiers participating in the spring and autumn training windows respectively. The exercise involves servicemen from 48 SAR and the Armour Training Institute, as well as 14 German Leopard 2 MBTs and 15 Singaporean Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles.

Exercise Panzer Strike underscores the warm and growing defence ties between Singapore and Germany. The valuable training space provided by the OMTA, which is a quarter of the size of Singapore, allows the Singapore Army to train more efficiently by enabling the simultaneous execution of up to four armour unit live firing exercises.

The opportunity to train in Germany has strengthened the professionalism and capabilities of the SAF Armour Formation, and reinforced the professional ties between the Singapore Army and their German counterparts.

Singapore and Germany interact regularly through high-level visits, military exchanges, professional courses, policy dialogues and technology collaboration. Both countries signed a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) in September 2005 to formalise defence interactions. They are working towards the signing of an enhanced DCA.