SINDEX marks key milestone in India Singapore defence ties

Singapore, Dec 20 (UNI) The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) are jointly conducting a bilateral exercise, codenamed SINDEX, at Paya Lebar Air Base here from December 8 to 22.

The RSAF's F-16 C/D Fighting Falcons and F-5E Tiger fighter aircraft and the IAF's Mirage and Jaguar aircraft are participating in this exercise, the Singapore Ministry of Defence in a statement said today.

Indian Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee and Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Shashindra Pal Tyagi visited the IAF detachment and observed the exercise on December 11. Air Chief Marshal Tyagi also called on Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean during his visit to Singapore.

Conducted here for the first time, Exercise SINDEX 06 marks a key milestone in the growing defence cooperation between the two countries, the Ministry said.

It is the fourth exercise in the SINDEX series, the first three of which were conducted in India.

''Exercise SINDEX provides a valuable opportunity for the two air forces to interact and train together, to enhance mutual understanding and inter-operability,'' it said.

''The exercise underscores the warm defence relationship between the two countries which includes the regular exchange of visits and increasing professional interaction,'' the Ministry said.

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