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Straits Times
19-06-2025
- General
- Straits Times
Singapore, US navies conclude 12-day bilateral exercise in Guam
Exercise Pacific Griffin, held from June 7 to 18, was held in Guam and its surrounding waters. PHOTO: MINDEF SINGAPORE - The Singapore and US navies on June 18 concluded a 12-day bilateral exercise that was held in Guam and it s surrounding waters. It was the fifth edition of Exercise Pacific Griffin , which began on June 7, said the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) on June 19 . The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN ) participated in the exercise with the Formidable-class frigate RSS Supreme , with an embarked S-70B Seahawk naval helicopter , and the Independence-class littoral mission vessel RSS Sovereignty . The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) also participated with two Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft and six F-16 fighter aircraft . The United States Navy (USN) participated with the Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS William P. Lawrence, the T-AKE oiler USNS Charles Drew and a P-8A Poseidon Maritime Patrol Aircraft . Naval divers from both navies also took part. During the exercise, both navies conducted a series of advanced naval warfare serials, including live missile and gunnery firings, as well as a simulated air defence exercise and simulated encounter exercises. The RSAF aircraft engaged in a series of sea-air missions, aimed at strengthening sea-air integration. Meanwhile, naval divers from the RSN took part in maritime explosive ordnance disposal and maritime counter-terrorism operations training. The RSN's Commander of First Flotilla, Colonel Daniel Ng Kok Yeng , said Exercise Pacific Griffin is 'a valuable opportunity' for both navies to enhance their mutual cooperation and understanding. 'The vast training space in the waters off Guam provides us with the opportunity to hone our war-fighting capabilities,' he added. Deputy Commodore of the USN's Destroyer Squadron 7, Captain John Baggett , said: 'We have a firm commitment to our partners in this region and a partnership with Singapore that spans nearly six decades. 'Pacific Griffin is one of many technologically robust training opportunities we participate in throughout the year that allows us to build dynamic competencies as an integrated maritime force.' Mindef said Exercise Pacific Griffin highlights the strong navy-to-navy relations between Singapore and the US, as well as the excellent and longstanding bilateral defence relations between both countries. Apart from bilateral exercises, both navies also engage in a wide range of activities, including professional exchanges, cross-attendance of courses and participation in multilateral exercises, added the ministry. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Miami Herald
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Stealth Jet Carrier Patrols South Pacific Amid China Rivalry
A United States naval task group, led by a warship capable of carrying stealth fighter jets, operated in the South Pacific Ocean amid China's growing naval presence in the region. The USS America, an amphibious assault ship equipped with F-35B fighter jets, visited Sydney, Australia, alongside two other vessels, demonstrating the U.S. Navy's forward presence, the U.S. Navy said. Newsweek reached out to the Chinese defense and foreign ministries via email for comment. Australia is a U.S. ally in the South Pacific, where American naval vessels frequently make port calls for stopovers and training. These include visits by the nuclear-powered submarine USS Minnesota to Western Australia in February and the Northern Territory in March. Meanwhile, China is expanding its military reach and presence in the Pacific, leveraging the world's largest navy by hull count. From mid-February to early March, three Chinese naval vessels conducted a high-profile circumnavigation of Australia in a show of naval strength. The America arrived in Sydney on Saturday, followed by the amphibious transport dock ship USS San Diego and the amphibious dock landing ship USS Rushmore the next day. The ships conducted a scheduled visit as part of routine operations in the South Pacific, the U.S. Navy said. This marks the first time the three amphibious warships, capable of projecting air and land power from sea to shore, have been moored simultaneously in Sydney on the Australian east coast, along with about 4,500 Navy sailors and Marines, according to the U.S. Navy. This group of naval ships and its embarked 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit-a U.S. Marine Corps crisis response force-forms the America Amphibious Ready Group, which is capable of conducting combat operations as well as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. The F-35B fighter jet, designed for short takeoff and vertical landing on ships without full-length runways, offers "unparalleled stealth and operational flexibility," the U.S. Navy said. Prior to their port calls, the U.S. amphibious warships conducted "integrated operations" in the Solomon Sea, located north of Australia, between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands on June 9, demonstrating the joint combat power of the Navy and Marine Corps. In addition to the America Amphibious Ready Group, USS Blue Ridge-a U.S. command and control ship-visited Sydney on May 26 during its deployment in the South Pacific. It was last seen on Saturday in Guam, the westernmost U.S. territory located in the Pacific. U.S. Navy Captain John Baggett, commodore of the Amphibious Squadron 11 that oversees the America Amphibious Ready Group, in a press release on Sunday: "Our port visit allows us to deepen friendships with our Australian allies, which is instrumental to our two nations' forces operating together to maintain regional peace and stability." Erika Olson, Chargé d'Affaires, U.S. Mission to Australia, in a press release on Saturday: "The U.S.-Australia alliance is a cornerstone of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. The arrival of America, USS San Diego and USS Rushmore marks the first time that the three-ship America Strike Group are together in Sydney." The America will shift its home port from Sasebo, Japan, to San Diego, California, and will be replaced by its sister ship, USS Tripoli, as part of a scheduled rotation of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region. It remains to be seen when the ship will depart for the U.S. West Coast. Related Articles Anti-Trump 'No Kings' Protests Spread Across Nation: See The PicturesHusband Away on Deployment Unprepared for What Ring Cam Captures Wife DoingPentagon Pizza Monitor Appeared To Predict Israel AttackSteve Bannon Questions Israel Reliance on US: 'They Want Us To Go on Offense' 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
