Republic of Navy (RSN) Hosts IMDEX Asia 05 Ship Display, Naval Technology Platform and Information Exchange Seminars and Major Multilateral Sea Exercise

17 May 2005

Minister on board INS Mysore

The RSN hosted a display today by 18 warships and two Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) at Changi Naval Base (CNB) as part of the programme for the International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (IMDEX Asia) 2005. The warships were from Australia, Canada, France, India, Indonesia, , Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, and the United States. Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean visited some of the foreign warships. He also observed a demonstration of the Spartan USV.

The RSN and the US Navy are collaborating in the development of the Spartan USV, which can be configured for a variety of roles such as Surveillance and Reconnaissance, and Mine Countermeasure. The use of unmanned technology is an important component of the SAF’s transformation efforts. The RSN already operates the Protector USV, which was employed for force protection when the RSN deployed an LST to the Arabian Gulf for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Both the Spartan and Protector USVs are being showcased at IMDEX Asia for the first time.

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The RSN is also hosting the 10th Naval Platform Technology Seminar (NPTS) 2005 in conjunction with IMDEX Asia 2005. The theme of this two-day biennial seminar was "Transformational Technologies for the Future Navy". More than 800 technologists, academics and naval officers attended the seminar, which is a forum to encourage international research and sharing on the potential of future naval platform technologies.

The RSN will also be hosting three Western Pacific Naval Symposium (WPNS) events involving ships and personnel representing 19 WPNS navies. The participants this year include ships from Australia, Canada, France, India, , Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and Thailand, with personnel from navies of Bangladesh, Brunei, Cambodia, Chile, , Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and the United States. Besides the 3rd WPNS Multilateral Tactical Training Centre Exercise (MTTCEX), the RSN will also host the inaugural WPNS Multilateral Sea Exercise (WMSX) and the first WPNS Maritime Security Information Exchange Seminar. These WPNS events are useful avenues for building professional capacities, enhancing mutual understanding, and strengthening interoperability among WPNS navies.

Minister on USS Chancellorsville

Minister viewing the SPARTAN

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SPARTAN SCOUT Advanced Concept Technology Demonstrator (ACTD)

PROTECTOR

Speeches:

Speech by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean at the Opening Ceremony of the International Maritime Defence Exhibition Asia (MINDEF_20050517002.pdf)

Transcript of Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean's Doorstop Interview after Visiting IMDEX Asia 05 Ship Display at Changi Naval Base (MINDEF_20050517002.pdf)

Factsheet:

Factsheet - Unmanned Surface Vessels (USV) (MINDEF_20050517003.pdf)

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