Singapore has been granted 25 years access to Queensland's Townsville Field Training Area and an expanded area in Shoalwater Bay. The number of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) troops able to train in these areas will increase from 6,600 a year currently to 14,000. SAF troops currently train for six weeks a year at Shoalwater Bay, but this will be extended to 18 weeks for both sites. The Singapore Army is largely made up of conscripts who serve for two years each. Hence, training is a major preoccupation of the army.
The Townsville site will be used mainly for army and air force training whereas Shoalwater Bay will be available for all three services -army, air force and navy.
Singapore will build new facilities that allow for complex training. These include a brand-new range where weapons, such as long-range artillery and Apache attack helicopters, can conduct live firing exercises. It will also build an urban warfare training facilities with multi-storey buildings.
Singapore and Australia will jointly develop the two training areas, with the Republic committing A$2.25 billion (S$2.38 billion) for the building of the joint military facilities over the next 25 years.
Although Singapore is funding the work, it will remain Australian property and will be mainly used by the Australian Defence Force.
All construction will be conducted through Australian tendering procedures. The master planning process for developing the Townsville site will be conducted over the next two years, with construction expected to start in 2019.
straitstimes.com
Singapore to pay $2bn to use Qld bases
Boost for defence and jobs
The Townsville site will be used mainly for army and air force training whereas Shoalwater Bay will be available for all three services -army, air force and navy.
Singapore will build new facilities that allow for complex training. These include a brand-new range where weapons, such as long-range artillery and Apache attack helicopters, can conduct live firing exercises. It will also build an urban warfare training facilities with multi-storey buildings.
Singapore and Australia will jointly develop the two training areas, with the Republic committing A$2.25 billion (S$2.38 billion) for the building of the joint military facilities over the next 25 years.
Although Singapore is funding the work, it will remain Australian property and will be mainly used by the Australian Defence Force.
All construction will be conducted through Australian tendering procedures. The master planning process for developing the Townsville site will be conducted over the next two years, with construction expected to start in 2019.
straitstimes.com
Singapore to pay $2bn to use Qld bases
Boost for defence and jobs
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