More than 1,000 troops from US army and SAF carry out urban warfare exercise
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An SAF soldier (left) working with his counterparts from the US Army during urban operations at Safti City for Exercise Tiger Balm.
PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE
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SINGAPORE – More than 1,000 troops from the Singapore and US armies executed urban warfare drills with air support from RSAF Apache helicopters and drones during a 12-day bilateral exercise.
It was Singapore’s turn in 2025 to host Exercise Tiger Balm – the longest-running bilateral exercise that the Republic and US have in place.
In a statement on May 16, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said 823 soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces and 257 soldiers from the US Army took part in the exercise.
The SAF troops were drawn from the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense and Strike (6 Div/HQ SS) and the 76th Singapore Infantry Brigade.
The US soldiers came from the Hawaii Army National Guard and the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The exercise lasted nearly two weeks – from May 5 to May 16 – during which soldiers ran through combat exercises and other drills, including urban warfare drills in Safti City.
Safti City is a high-tech urban training facility
Apart from the AH-64D Apache helicopters and Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicles from the Republic of Singapore Air Force, a Strike Observer Mission team from the army carried out reconnaissance work during the exercise.
On the sidelines, subject matter expert exchanges took place, dealing with the evolution of chemical, biological, radiological and explosive threats.
Brigadier-General Anand Sathi Kumar, commander of 6 Div/HQ SS, said the exercise in 2025 incorporated new urban combat missions and unmanned technologies as part of the training.
The exercise, he added, reaffirmed the deep and strategic partnership between Singapore and the US.
Now in its 44th year, Exercise Tiger Balm was first conducted in 1981.
The Mindef statement said: “This annual exercise allows both armies to collaborate and share tactics, techniques and procedures, and is the hallmark of the excellent and longstanding ties between both armed forces.
“These regular interactions have fostered and enhanced the professionalism, friendships and mutual understanding among personnel from both armies.”
