This year’s Exercise Trident, the flagship military training event jointly conducted by Singapore and Australia, has escalated in scale and complexity. For the first time, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) will undertake dual-terrain operations involving jungle and urban environments, marking a significant evolution in the scope of the exercise.
Held annually, Exercise Trident symbolizes the long-standing defense relationship between Singapore and Australia. Now in its 10th iteration, the exercise brings together over 1,900 military personnel, with operations set to unfold from November 6 to November 15 at Queensland’s expansive Shoalwater Bay Training Area. Singapore’s Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) confirmed that this year’s edition would feature advanced ship-to-shore operations, adding new challenges and reinforcing the two countries’ shared commitment to regional security and defense collaboration.
Traditionally, Exercise Trident has focused on single-terrain missions, alternating between jungle and urban settings. The previous exercise in 2022, for instance, was conducted in a jungle environment. However, this year’s operation is unique, marking the first time that personnel from the SAF and ADF will operate across both jungle and urban landscapes within a single exercise.
SLTC Enriquez Michael Zachary, the SAF’s lead for Exercise Trident, emphasized the decision to elevate the training’s complexity by incorporating dual-terrain operations. “It’s important for us to be able to train in Shoalwater Bay with the ADF because of the vast terrain and the opportunities to execute maneuvers not feasible in local terrain,” he stated. According to Zachary, the broader environment not only enables more extensive maneuvers but also builds troops’ adaptability to different terrains, furthering the SAF’s capacity for diverse, large-scale operations.
The 2023 edition also integrates battalion-level amphibious operations, underscoring the depth of coordination between Singaporean and Australian forces. This exercise phase will feature the deployment of the Singaporean Navy’s largest vessels, RSS Endurance and RSS Persistence, and a full array of air and sea transport resources.
The exercise will feature two primary ship-to-shore missions. For the initial mission, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will deploy its CH-47F Chinook and H225M helicopters to transport troops from ships at sea to a designated jungle landing site within Shoalwater Bay. Troops will then disembark and begin ground operations on foot, adapting to the challenging jungle terrain. Following this jungle segment, the focus will shift to urban warfare, simulating real-world transition scenarios from remote jungle settings to built-up urban zones.
The second ship-to-shore mission will involve deploying naval vessels, including fast craft utilities and fast craft equipment and personnel, to ferry SAF and ADF forces and their equipment directly from the landing ships to the shoreline. Upon reaching the shore, these forces will regroup with troops from the initial mission, establishing a larger, unified force ready to engage in urban combat exercises.
Air support will play a pivotal role in enhancing troops’ effectiveness and situational awareness in this year’s Exercise Trident. The RSAF’s AH-64D Apache helicopters will deliver close air support, providing cover for ground forces in both jungle and urban operations. Additionally, MINDEF confirmed the deployment of the Heron-1 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for the first time in Exercise Trident, marking a technological milestone.
The Heron-1 UAVs, equipped with sophisticated surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities, will provide real-time intelligence to SAF and ADF forces, offering critical information on terrain features, potential obstacles, and external threats. SLTC Michael underscored the UAV’s role in enhancing the SAF’s situational awareness: “The Heron-1 gives us a vantage point on the evolving conditions, supporting decision-making and adaptability on the ground.”
Shoalwater Bay Training Area, with its expansive landscapes and varied topographies, offers a rare opportunity for multi-domain training but also presents a distinct set of challenges for both Singaporean and Australian troops. Major Daniel Hu, the commanding officer of RSS Persistence, noted that conducting operations in Shoalwater Bay has allowed the SAF to fully integrate its navy, air force, and army divisions in ways that would be unachievable in Singapore’s smaller and more controlled environment.
“Shoalwater Bay offers an ideal space for integrated training. We are able to push boundaries and leverage its wide expanse of air, land, and sea for ship-to-shore operations,” Major Hu commented. However, he also highlighted the logistical complexities posed by this unique environment, particularly in terms of coordinating the simultaneous operations of air and naval assets within designated training spaces.
Additionally, Australia’s weather patterns differ considerably from Singapore’s more temperate conditions. “Back in Singapore, conditions are a lot more sheltered and predictable. Here, we face more adverse weather, which requires us to adapt our strategies,” Major Hu noted. Despite these challenges, he expressed optimism that the training in such varied and demanding conditions would only serve to strengthen his crew’s skills and resilience.
Exercise Trident is the culminating phase of Exercise Wallaby, the SAF’s largest overseas training exercise, which takes place annually in Australia. Exercise Wallaby and, by extension, Exercise Trident, underscores Singapore’s reliance on foreign partnerships to achieve its military training goals due to the city-state’s limited land space for large-scale military exercises.
Singapore and Australia’s defense partnership dates back decades, bolstered by the 2016 Comprehensive Strategic Partnership agreement, which enhanced defense cooperation between the two nations. This partnership provides for collaborative exercises, shared defense insights, and logistical support, cementing both nations’ commitment to maintaining regional security. Through Exercise Trident, both forces gain invaluable experience in cross-domain operations, allowing them to practice real-time response scenarios that could be critical in any future joint response in the region.
For Australia, Exercise Trident reinforces its standing as a central security partner in Southeast Asia, contributing to stability and fostering greater understanding with one of the region’s most strategically located nations. It also reflects Australia’s broader defense commitment to maintaining robust partnerships across the Asia-Pacific, as outlined in its defense policy.
One of Exercise Trident’s core objectives is to develop interoperability between the SAF and ADF, a capability that can prove invaluable in crisis scenarios where coordinated international efforts are needed. Each phase of Exercise Trident involves detailed planning and synchronized actions between the two forces, from the precise timing of helicopter deployments to coordinated movements of naval assets to the shore.
By engaging in realistic training scenarios, Singaporean and Australian troops enhance their readiness to operate as cohesive units, integrating their systems and protocols to achieve common mission objectives. “The chance to train with our Australian counterparts is an important opportunity to build mutual understanding and trust,” SLTC Michael said. The exercise structure allows for personnel from both countries to work in tandem, fostering bonds that extend beyond technical operations to reinforce the broader military alliance between Singapore and Australia.
Looking ahead, the success of this year’s Exercise Trident paves the way for future collaborations that may incorporate new technology, expanded mission scopes, and additional allied partners. The exercise’s structure aligns with evolving regional security needs, where cross-border challenges require multifaceted approaches that blend land, air, and sea capabilities.
Both Singapore and Australia are anticipated to continue advancing their joint military exercises, potentially incorporating other nations in the Indo-Pacific region to foster broader security cooperation. As both countries seek to stay abreast of technological advancements, future iterations of Exercise Trident could see the inclusion of artificial intelligence in reconnaissance or logistical planning, cyber capabilities, or enhanced communications technology for better situational awareness.
The dual-terrain approach of Exercise Trident 2023 represents an adaptive milestone, illustrating how both the SAF and ADF are evolving to meet the demands of modern warfare, where environments shift, and operations span various domains. The experience gained in Queensland’s rugged and dynamic landscape will contribute to each nation’s defense readiness and their preparedness to address challenges jointly.
