Shangri-La Dialogue 2024: FPDA exercises to feature more complex asset…

Navy ships from the Five Power Defence Arrangements member countries conducting a formation exercise during Exercise ‘Bersama Gold 2021'. A similar activity to be carried out in the later part of 2024, Exercise ‘Bersama Lima', is set to feature more complex military assets. (Ministry of Defence, Singapore)

Future exercises held under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) are set to grow more complex with the injection of more sophisticated military hardware, including F-35 fighter aircraft and unmanned aircraft systems.

This development was disclosed in a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) after a meeting between the defence ministers of four FPDA countries and the United Kingdom's Director General for Security Policy. The meeting took place in the lead up to the Shangri-La Dialogue 2024, which was held in Singapore from 31 May to 2 June.

At the meeting, the leaders reaffirmed their respective countries' commitment to the FPDA and pledged their support for efforts to enhance the operational value of its exercises, said MINDEF.

The leaders also discussed how the FPDA can evolve to remain relevant and keep pace with contemporary security developments, the ministry added.

Against this backdrop, future FPDA exercises will incorporate “next-generation capabilities”, such as a P-8 maritime patrol aircraft from New Zealand, F-35 fighter jets from Australia, unmanned systems, and elements of the UK's Carrier Strike Group, said MINDEF.

The ministry's statement stopped short of revealing further details of the unmanned systems that will be deployed and made no indication of the exact dates of when the more complex FPDA drills are due to be held.