The exercises known as the 21st annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) Singapore will involve 1,400 personnel from both countries and will last till July 24.
It is part of a series of bilateral naval exercises conducted by the US Navy (USN) with partner countries in South and Southeast Asia.
This year’s training focuses on enhancing conventional maritime warfare capabilities — including anti-air, anti-surface and anti-submarine operations.
The training will also feature a shore phase in addition to the sea phase. It will include professional seminars and subject matter exchanges to allow US and Singaporean personnel to exchange top practices and enhance cooperation, including field training events, an aviation symposium, board, search and seizure drills.
The two countries started the inaugural edition of the exercise in 1995. This year, apart from a joint torpedo firing exercise, both navies will employ their Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems for conventional maritime warfare operations as part of Ex CARAT for the first time.
“Over the years, Exercise CARAT has provided both navies with invaluable training and enhanced interoperability. I believe that it is this close friendship and deep mutual understanding that form the basis of trust,” RSN Fleet Commander Rear-Admiral Lew Chuen Hong said.
