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By Kenny Chee & Jamie Teo
IT WAS a day of quick manoeuvres and intense firing on the rough waters of the South China Sea, as the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) conducted its first fleet exercise of the year yesterday.
This was also the first time that all six of the Navy's stealth frigates are taking part in an exercise. The warships became operational last month.
The two-day exercise saw the third-generation RSN reacting nimbly to aerial and naval threats, thanks to advanced technology and months of training and preparation.
The exercise started off with the anti-air systems of the Navy's frigates and missile corvettes being put to the test early yesterday afternoon.
The ships had to "search and destroy" hostile aircraft in a simulated attack by F-16 fighter jets from the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
The briny sea air later thundered with salvos of 76mm-calibre guns of the Navy's warships, as they took out floating enemy targets in a simulated sea battle.
Nearly 800 personnel are involved in the fleet exercise, including sailors manning a Challenger-class submarine.
"As a collective team, (naval forces like ours) can help deter pirates and terrorists to keep our waters safe and sound," said Staff Sergeant Eric Tan, 30, a weapons-control specialist on board the frigate RSS Steadfast and a Navy veteran of nine years.
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