CNA, SINGAPORE : US and Singapore warships have hooked up their respective naval simulators, so they can conduct joint exercises virtually instead of travelling half way around the world for the drills.
This is one of the displays at the International Maritime Defence Exhibition, which focuses largely on the importance of security at sea and the maritime threats posed by terrorists.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean said: “There would be serious disruption to global trade if there is an attack against a major port or a waterway or a chokepoint, such as the Suez Canal or the Straits of Malacca. While states must take their own security measures, and the list of security measures that states must take is a long one, no state can hope to be completely effective in dealing with the threat on its own.”
In the face of mounting maritime terrorism, coastal patrols have been intensified.
But it's not just about military hardware, it's also about well-trained personnel capable of dealing with different scenarios and reacting to real threats.
That is why the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) has not only developed its own realistic simulator but also linked it up with the US Navy's Battle Force Tactical Training system.
This means the two navies can conduct joint high-tech simulator exercises, with realistic scenarios set around the world.
RSN's Lt-Col Tan Hong Wee said: “Physically, we don't have to sail the 10,000 miles to be with the US, nor they have to come over here to train with us. But, more importantly, this system enables us to capture all critical events so that we can analyse and benchmark our performance versus the US or any other navies.”
The RSN is also looking forward to having similar linked simulation training with other navies.
