von Australian Army personnel will join Royal Australian Navy (RAN) and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) personnel for a major military exercise conducted off Malaysia starting today.
Exercise Bersama Padu 2010 (BP10), which means “together united” in Bahasa Malaysia, is a three-week exercise designed to enhance regional security in the area.
This is the first time an Army platoon has participated in the exercise, which will also involve armed forces from Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom.
The exercise, which is part of the Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA), will take place at various locations across the Malaysian Peninsula as well as the South China Sea.
Chief of Joint Operations, Lieutenant General Mark Evans, said the FPDA countries shared a common interest in the security and stability of the region, and the exercise would enhance the interoperability of the combined air, ground and naval forces of member nations.
“The FPDA was established 39 years ago and continues to be an integral part of the regional security architecture because of its ability to adapt to the changing security environment,” Lieutenant General Evans said.
“The FPDA serves as a useful forum for an exchange of views among the Defence Ministers and senior defence officials of its member states.”
“Involving an Army platoon in this year’s exercise will give the Australian Defence Force a more inclusive approach to exercising with partner nations by extending interoperability opportunities.”
He said this was the first time a ship-to-shore landing had been included in a FPDA Field Training Exercise. An Australian Army platoon will join with a Malaysian Army platoon in the exercise, using naval ships to lodge these forces ashore.
The Commander of the Australian Contingent, Wing Commander Kenneth Robinson, said BP10 would build on previous FPDA exercises and continue to develop and implement procedures that would cultivate ties between partner nations.
“BP10 is an important training exercise for all three arms of the ADF,” Wing Commander Robinson said.
“For the RAAF, it allows us to practise our flying skills in an unfamiliar and challenging environment.”
“The Exercise also provides participants with high-complexity air combat training opportunities, and allows us to test and practise our deployment capabilities away from our home base.”
HMA Ships Success, Tobruk, Toowoomba, and Arunta; Australian Clearance Dive Team One from HMAS Waterhen Sydney; eight F/A‑18s from No 3 Squadron RAAF Williamtown NSW; an Australian Army platoon from Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) base Butterworth; and around 60 support staff from across the ADF will participate in the exercise.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
Press release
Ministerial Support and Public Affairs,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, Australia