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THE Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), the United States Navy (USN) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) began their annual readiness and training exercise here on Monday.
The 11-day exercise, which will end on July 3, will focus on conventional maritime competencies in anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare, maritime air operations, and maritime security operations, said a statement from the Singapore's Ministry of Defence on Monday.
A key highlight of the US-Singapore Cooperation Afloat readiness and training (Carat) is be the Mistral missile firing by the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) landing ship tank RSS Endeavour against air drone targets.
Some 1,400 personnel from the land, sea and air elements of the two armed forces, 14 ships, five fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and one submarine, are being deployed for the exercise.
The SAF and the US Armed Forces have been participating in exercise Carat since 1995.
This annual series of bilateral maritime training exercises aims to enhance interoperability and professional cooperation between both armed forces.
The opening ceremony of the joint exercise was co-officiated by the RSN's Fleet Commander, Rear-Admiral Ng Chee Peng, and the USN's Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific, Rear-Admiral Nora Tyson, at Changi Naval Base on Monday morning.
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