Australia and FPDA partners conduct Exercise Bersama Lima 2026

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) participated in Exercise Bersama Lima 2026, held in Singapore from October 5 to 23. Conducted under the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA), the annual exercise involved approximately 1,900 personnel, 42 aircraft, seven ships, and one submarine.

Participants included forces from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. The RAAF’s No. 3 Squadron operated F-35A Lightning II fighters from Paya Lebar Air Base, conducting defensive and offensive counter-air missions. Australian pilots flew in mixed formations with Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-15SG and F-16C/D fighters and performed air-to-air refueling using an RSAF A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport.

The 2026 edition featured the first land-based Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) deployment by all five participating nations and included the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Invincible-class submarine.