FPDA Militaries Train Together at Exercise Bersama Lima 2024

The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Exercise Bersama Lima 2024 (XBL24) is currently underway involving assets and personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.

XBL24 is being hosted in Singapore and led by the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). “Exercise Bersama Lima 2024 has been designed to deepen the strong partnership and interoperability among our militaries,” said Exercise Director, RSN’s Fleet Commander Rear Admiral Kwan Hon Chuong.

This year’s exercise involves more than 2,000 personnel, 38 aircraft, five ships, four Ground-Based Air Defence Systems (GBADS), over 250 ground troops, and four dive teams.

XBL24 also featured its inaugural participation of six Australian F-35As and a P-8A maritime patrol aircraft from New Zealand, which increased the overall exercise complexity and training value.

Exercise serials involved maneuvering exercises, naval gun firing, air-defence exercises and diving serials, while the air forces undertook combined air operations and complex air defence scenarios. Air-Land training was undertaken in the form of troop lift missions. The exercises will culminate in a field exercise involving both jungle and urban environments.

Bersama Lima 2024 concludes on 18 October.