Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah visits SAF complex, tests hardware on show

Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, accompanied by Mr Chan, drives an upgraded Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) Mark-II. -- PHOTO: MINDEF 
Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah, accompanied by Mr Chan, drives an upgraded Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) Mark-II. -- PHOTO: MINDEF 
Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing (left) speaks to Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah (right) as he prepares to fire the SAR-21. -- PHOTO: MINDEF

SINGAPORE - Brunei's Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah visited the Singapore Armed Forces' Multi-Mission Range Complex at Pasir Laba Camp on Tuesday, and tested some of the hardware on show.

He fired the Singapore Assault Rifle 21, commonly known as the SAR-21, and drove an upgraded Light Strike Vehicle (LSV) Mark-II, which is usually used for covering rough terrain at high speed.

The visit to the complex, on the second day of his five-day official visit to Singapore, was hosted by Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development.

While there, Crown Prince Al-Muhtadee Billah also viewed live-firing demonstrations at the 50m indoor shooting and urban operations ranges, as well as a static display of the Skyblade III Unmanned Aerial Vehicle.

He was later presented with an Honorary Advanced Combat Skills badge, and an honorary LSV MK II driver's licence.

The Defence Ministry said in a statement on Tuesday that the visit underscored long-standing defence ties between Singapore and Brunei. Both the SAF and the Royal Brunei Armed Forces interact regularly through activities such as bilateral exercises, regular visits and professional exchanges.

The Singapore Army and the Royal Brunei Land Force will mark the 20th anniversary of their flagship bilateral Exercise Maju Bersama in Brunei next April .

The Crown Prince, who is Brunei's Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, is in Singapore at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Home Affairs Minister Teo Chee Hean under the Singapore-Brunei Young Leaders' Programme.

Also present during the visit to the Multi-Mission Range Complex were the Deputy Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, Brigadier-General Yussof Rahman - who is also Commander of the Royal Brunei Land Force - and the SAF's Chief of Army, Major-General Perry Lim.

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