Exercise Bersama Lima commences

Around 400 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel are participating in Exercise Bersama Lima 2024, alongside members of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), in Malaysia and Singapore.

During the exercise, the ADF will collaborate with partner nations to enhance air, land, and maritime training aimed at bolstering the defence of Malaysia and Singapore. The FPDA, formed in 1971, is a longstanding defence pact between Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom.

This year marks a milestone for the ADF, with the Royal Australian Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II aircraft and a Royal Australian Navy clearance diving team making their debut in an FPDA exercise.

Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, emphasized Australia’s dedication to the FPDA, stating, “The ADF’s involvement in Bersama Lima reaffirms our enduring commitment to fostering a peaceful, stable, and prosperous region. The deployment of advanced Royal Australian Air Force capabilities, along with Army and Navy units, highlights Australia’s role in supporting collective security in the region.”

Major Mark Tamblyn, Commander of the Australian contingent, underscored the value of working with FPDA partners. “Our team is eager to collaborate with our FPDA counterparts, strengthening relationships that have lasted for over 50 years and improving interoperability,” Major Tamblyn said. “The inclusion of the F-35As and Navy clearance divers showcases our continued efforts to enhance training sophistication and build capacity within the FPDA framework.”