In a move to enhance maritime security across the region, the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) is participating in a multi-national exercise involving countries in the Asean Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus (ADMM-Plus) Exercise on Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism.

Eighteen ships carrying 11 helicopters and two maritime patrol aircraft are now docked in Brunei waters, in preparation for the largest cooperative military exercise ever seen in this region.

The first leg of the exercise commences today, with a maritime security planning session with New Zealand. This will be followed with an en masse deployment on May 5 where the fleet will depart for Singapore for the counter-terrorism aspect of the exercise jointly organised with Australia.

The RBAF is deploying the offshore patrol vessel, KDB Darussalam, which has already seen active participation in several exercises, including the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) maritime exercise in 2014, and the Exercise Pelican with Singapore last November, which involved tactical discussions and simulation exercises in naval warfare.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Joint Force Headquarters with the participation of the Royal Brunei Navy and the Special Force Regiment, with the aim of promoting information sharing on maritime terrorism, as well as providing better understanding of capabilities among ADMM-Plus navies in responding to relevant and contemporary scenarios.

The exercise will focus on the fictional South Equatorial Region Sea Land of Communication (SLOC), where fictitious extremist groups will utilise the SLOC as a potential avenue to transport weapons of mass destruction and terrorists throughout the region.

Ten Asean member states, together with Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation and the United States, will set the tone for cooperation within the region, particularly during rising tensions surrounding the South China Sea involving four Asean member countries and China, with the US strongly backing maritime peace within the region.

Earlier, US Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Scott Swift had expressed the hope that this exercise would bring about transparency, for a better understanding of issues among military forces.

The Brunei Darussalam Joint Declaration on the Second ADMM-Plus Meeting, under which the exercise is to take place, states that there is a desire to create a harmonious environment by strengthening the existing bonds of friendship, goodwill and cooperation among defence establishments in keeping with the principles of equality, partnership, consultation and mutual respect.

Among the naval ships awaiting commands at the Muara commercial wharf are the Vietnamese Navy's Fast Attack Patrol Vessel; the Chinese destroyer, Lanzhou (170); the US Navy's USS Stethem (DDG 63); South Korea's ROKS Choi Young; Russia's anti-submarine vessel, Admiral Vinogradov; and the Indian Navy's INS Airavat.

At the Royal Brunei Naval Jetty are the Philippine Navy frigate, BRP Gregorio del Pilar (PF-15); the Malaysian Navy's KD Terengganu (174) Patrol vessel; Singapore's Formidable Class; Thailand's HTMS (His Thai Majesty's Ship) Taksin (FFG 422); and the Australian Navy's HMAS Anzac Frigate Helicopter; and a military naval ship from Indonesia.

Meanwhile, the JDS, Ise DDH-182, the second of two Hyuga-class helicopter destroyers belonging to the Japanese Navy, is at anchor in Brunei Bay, with other new arrivals, including maritime patrol aircraft from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the US Navy's maritime P-8 Poseidon surveillance aircraft.

Source:
@BRUDIRECT.COM

by BruDirect.com

If you have any stories or news that you would like to share with the global online community, please feel free to share it with us by contacting us directly at [email protected]