Minister of State for Defence visits SAF Troops in New Zealand

Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee (second from right) and New Zealand Defence Minister Dr Wayne Mapp (third from right) receiving a brief on Exercise Thunder Warrior 2011.

22 January 2011, New Zealand -- (Mindef): Minister of State for Defence, Associate Professor (A/P) Koo Tsai Kee, and the New Zealand Minister of Defence, Dr Wayne Mapp, visited Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops participating in the annual artillery exercise, codenamed Thunder Warrior, at the Waiouru Training Area in New Zealand this morning. As part of this year's visit, A/P Koo and Dr Mapp observed a battalion live-firing exercise involving the Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, Primus. This is the second consecutive year they are observing the exercise. About 350 SAF personnel from the 21st and 24th Battalions, Singapore Artillery, are taking part in this year's exercise which is conducted from 17 Jan to 1 Feb 2011.

A Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer, Primus participating in the live-firing exercise at the Waiouru Training Area, New Zealand.

A/P Koo's visit is part of the regular ministerial exchanges between Singapore and New Zealand, and underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between the two countries. The SAF and the New Zealand Defence Force interact extensively through bilateral and multilateral training exercises, professional exchanges and courses.

Source: Mindef