S’pore, US armies conclude Exercise Lightning Strike held in Republic
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SINGAPORE – Exercise Lightning Strike, an annual bilateral exercise between the Singapore and US armies, was successfully held in the Republic from Nov 4 to 12.
It involved about 500 soldiers from the Singapore Army’s 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade and 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, as well as the US Army’s 1st Battalion and 23rd Infantry Regiment, said the Ministry of Defence.
As part of the exercise, troops planned and executed combined arms urban operations, which culminated in a joint battalion-level assault urban simulation. The soldiers trained at various venues, including Safti City, where they employed close-quarters battle tactics and specialised urban operations equipment, supported by drones.
Senior Lieutenant-Colonel Abu Bakar Abdillah Alkatib said: “By training in a facility like Safti City, we were able to replicate the sights, sounds and stresses of a realistic battlefield to hone our soldiers’ tactical responses.”
SLTC Abdillah, who is also commander of the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade, said digital tools were used to track and understand how soldiers performed, helping them learn and improve together.
Soldiers from the Singapore Army and US Army receiving a mission brief as part of Exercise Lightning Strike.
PHOTO: MINDEF
“Exercise Lightning Strike demonstrated our shared commitment to working as one team. Its success is not just about the skills gained – it is also about the friendship and dedication shown by every Lion and Tomahawk on parade,” he said.
The annual bilateral exercise was first held in 1996, and provides a platform for the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures between both armies.
