11th bilateral armour exercise conducted between Singapore and Indian armies

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra, a bilateral armour exercise, will be conducted between the Singapore and Indian Army (IA) from March 4 to 21, 2017.

Commander 3rd Singapore Division, Brigadier-General Alfred Fox and Deputy General Officer Commanding of the 31st Indian Armoured Division, Brigadier-General Salil Sharma. Photo courtesy: MINDEF
Commander 3rd Singapore Division, Brigadier-General Alfred Fox and Deputy General Officer Commanding of the 31st Indian Armoured Division, Brigadier-General Salil Sharma. Photo courtesy: MINDEF

Conducted at the Babina Field Firing Range in Central India, this year’s exercise is the eleventh in its series. About 380 soldiers from the Singapore Army and the IA will participate in integrated manoeuvres, as well as joint planning and training, MINDEF Singapore said in a press statement on March 17, 2017.

The highlight of this year’s exercise was the integrated live-firing by infantry fighting vehicles from both armies.

The SAF’s Bionix IFV (foreground) and IA’s T-90s (background) taking up firing positions during the joint live firing exercise. Photo courtesy: MINDEF
The SAF’s Bionix IFV (foreground) and IA’s T-90s (background) taking up firing positions during the joint live firing exercise. Photo courtesy: MINDEF

Exercise Bold Kurukshetra is conducted under the ambit of the Bilateral Agreement for Joint Army Training and Exercises between the Singapore and Indian armies. This exercise underscores the strong bilateral defence relationship between both countries. It also enhances the cooperation and interoperability between the two armies.

Aside from joint exercises, both defence establishments also interact regularly through high-level visits, policy dialogues, courses and other professional exchanges.