Singapore, Brunei wrap up bilateral naval drill ahead of ASEAN fleet review

Ships from the navies of Singapore and Brunei concluded the bilateral naval exercise Pelican on November 13 before heading for the ASEAN International Fleet Review in Thailand.

This year’s exercise Pelican took place between November 11 and 13 and was the 36th in its series. It involved the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Formidable-class frigate RSS Steadfast and Royal Brunei Navy’s Darussalam-class offshore patrol vessel KDB Daruttaqwa.

As part of the exercise, the two navies conducted live gunnery firings, communications and manoeuvring exercises in the South China Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Personnel from both navies also conducted a sea-rider exchange in which they visited and sailed on their counterparts’ ships.

Following the exercise, both ships headed together to Pattaya, Thailand for the ASEAN International Fleet Review.

The fleet review in Thailand will be attended by 26 vessels from 19 countries. ASEAN navies attending the review are also set to take part in the first iteration of the ASEAN naval drill ‘AMNEX’ which will take place on and around Sattahip Naval Base in the northern part of the Gulf of Thailand.