Exercise Wallaby 2026: SAF debuts live-firing drills, tests new battlefield technology in largest overseas exercise

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting its largest overseas unilateral exercise to date, involving about 6,000 personnel and 1,200 platforms in Queensland, Australia.

The 36th edition of Exercise Wallaby runs from Sept 6 to Nov 2 at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), which is about five times the size of Singapore.

The exercise brings together the Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), alongside engineers and technologists from the Defence Technology Community (DTC).

Speaking at a media briefing on Thursday (Oct 22), Exercise Wallaby Frame 3 director and Commander of the 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade Colonel Joshua Goh said the training area offers opportunities that cannot be replicated in Singapore.

Its vast terrain allows soldiers to operate over longer distances, while its airspace and facilities support integrated training across services.

"Wallaby affords us that space," he said, adding that the SAF needs to explore new capabilities and develop new fighting concepts as modern warfare evolves.

Firsts in live-firing exercises

This year's exercise features several milestones, including the first time an operationally ready National Service (NS) armour unit will conduct live-firing using the Armour Live Firing System (ALFS) during Exercise Wallaby.

The 408th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (408 SAR), will conduct integrated live-firing involving its Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles and the RSAF's AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.

Another milestone will take place on Oct 28, when the 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR), conducts platoon urban operations live-firing at SWBTA's Urban Operations Live-Fire Facilities.

It will be the first time full-time national servicemen (NSFs) undergo live-firing at the facilities.

The battalion will also test new operating concepts under the SAF's Next-Generation Infantry Battalion (NGIB), which aims to improve operational flexibility and combat effectiveness.

COL Goh said realistic training remains essential to maintaining operational readiness, with activities supported by careful preparation and safety controls.

For 408 SAR, the exercise builds on four previous in-camp training periods. Meanwhile, 5 SIR's drone teams have undergone theory lessons, simulator training and practical flying before arriving in Australia.

Testing new technology for modern warfare

Exercise Wallaby also provides a platform for the SAF and its defence technology partners to test emerging capabilities in realistic field conditions.

Trials include a 5G-enabled Aerial Communications Node, counter-unmanned aircraft systems and digital tools to improve battlefield communications and mission planning.

The RSAF has also trialled an AI-enabled Helicopter Decision Support System with its CH-47F Chinook helicopters to support mission planning and decision-making. This would enable aircrew to save time on coordination, while enhancing effectiveness and lethality on the battlefield.

Another capability being tested is the Digitally-Aided Close Air Support application, jointly developed by the RSAF, Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) and ST Engineering.

It allows information to be exchanged digitally between ground-based strike controllers and aircraft, improving on coordination through analogue voice communications.

The SAF is also exploring the use of drones launched from CH-47F helicopters to extend aircrew visibility and provide surveillance during complex operations.

Col Goh said partnerships with the DTC allow the SAF to evaluate new technologies and refine how they are used in the field.

"By evaluating such technologies under realistic field conditions, operators and engineers can identify areas for improvement and refine both the systems and how they deploy," he said.

SAF volunteers take on expanded roles

Exercise Wallaby 2026 has also seen increased participation from the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC), with volunteers taking on roles including nurses, radiographers and transport operators.

A Forward Support Group provides medical, logistical, maintenance and transportation support to training units throughout the exercise.

COL Goh said he was proud to see volunteers contribute their professional skills and expertise.

"I'm very proud to see our SAF volunteers contribute their diverse skills and professional expertise in support of the exercise," he said.

He added that personnel remain central to the SAF's operational readiness as its capabilities and operating concepts evolve.

"Our people will always remain at the heart of these efforts," he said.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

澳大利亚罗克汉普顿——新加坡武装部队（SAF）正在澳大利亚昆士兰州进行迄今为止规模最大的海外单边演习，约有 6000 名人员和 1200 个平台参与其中。

第 36 届“袋鼠演习”将于 9 月 6 日至 11 月 2 日在浅水湾训练区 (SWBTA) 举行，该训练区面积约为新加坡的五倍。

此次演习汇集了新加坡陆军、新加坡共和国空军 (RSAF) 和数字与情报服务局 (DIS)，以及来自国防技术社区 (DTC) 的工程师和技术专家。

周四（10 月 22 日），“袋鼠行动”第三框架演习主任兼新加坡​​第三步兵旅指挥官吴俊杰上校在新闻发布会上表示，该训练区域提供了在新加坡无法复制的机会。

其广阔的地形使士兵能够在更远的距离上作战，而其空域和设施则支持跨军种的联合训练。

“Wallaby 为我们提供了这样的空间，”他说道，并补充说，随着现代战争的发展，新加坡武装部队需要探索新的能力并发展新的作战概念。

实弹射击演习中的首次

今年的演习具有几个里程碑意义，其中包括一支具备作战能力的国民服役（NS）装甲部队首次在“袋鼠”演习中使用装甲实弹射击系统（ALFS）进行实弹射击。

新加坡装甲团第408营（408 SAR）将进行联合实弹射击演习，演习将涉及其Bionix步兵战车和新加坡空军的AH-64D阿帕奇攻击直升机。

另一个里程碑事件将于 10 月 28 日发生，届时新加坡步兵团第 5 营 (5 SIR) 将在 SWBTA 的城市作战实弹射击设施进行排级城市作战实弹射击。

这将是全职国民服役人员首次在该设施进行实弹射击训练。

该营还将测试新加坡武装部队下一代步兵营（NGIB）下的新作战理念，旨在提高作战灵活性和战斗效能。

吴上校表示，实战训练对于保持作战准备至关重要，而各项活动都离不开周密的准备和安全控制。

对于第408搜救营而言，此次演习建立在之前四次营内训练的基础上。与此同时，第5特种侦察营的无人机小组在抵达澳大利亚之前，已经完成了理论课程、模拟器训练和实际飞行训练。

测试用于现代战争的新技术

“袋鼠演习”也为新加坡武装部队及其国防技术合作伙伴提供了一个平台，以便在真实的实地条件下测试新兴能力。

试验内容包括支持 5G 的空中通信节点、反无人机系统以及用于改进战场通信和任务规划的数字工具。

新加坡空军已在其CH-47F“支奴干”直升机上试用了人工智能直升机决策支持系统，以辅助任务规划和决策。这将使机组人员节省协调时间，同时提高战场上的效率和杀伤力。

另一项正在测试的功能是数字辅助近距离空中支援应用，该应用由新加坡空军、国防科技局 (DSTA) 和新加坡科技工程公司 (ST Engineering) 联合开发。

它允许地面打击控制人员和飞机之间进行数字信息交换，从而改进了通过模拟语音通信进行的协调。

新加坡武装部队也在探索使用从 CH-47F 直升机上发射的无人机，以扩大机组人员的视野，并在复杂的行动中提供监视。

吴上校表示，与国防技术中心的合作使新加坡武装部队能够评估新技术，并改进其在实战中的使用方式。

他说：“通过在真实的现场条件下评估这些技术，操作人员和工程师可以发现需要改进的地方，并改进系统及其部署方式。”

新加坡武装部队志愿者承担更多角色

2026 年“袋鼠”演习也增加了新加坡武装部队志愿兵团 (SAFVC) 的参与度，志愿者们担任了包括护士、放射技师和运输操作员在内的各种角色。

前沿支援小组在整个演习过程中为训练部队提供医疗、后勤、维护和运输支持。

吴上校表示，他很自豪地看到志愿者们贡献他们的专业技能和专业知识。

“我非常自豪地看到我们的新加坡武装部队志愿者贡献他们各种技能和专业知识来支持这项演习，”他说。

他补充说，随着新加坡武装部队的能力和作战理念不断发展，人员仍然是其作战准备的核心。

他说：“我们的人民将始终是这些努力的核心。”

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com