LANGKAWI, MALAYSIA, Tuesday 2 April 2013 – A bilateral exercise between the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) codenamed Exercise Hornbill 23/2013 commenced on the 1 April 2013 til 7April 2013.
Exercise Hornbill 23/2013 is an annual bilateral exercise, alternately host between Brunei and Malaysia. Malaysia, hosting this year’s series have chosen to conduct the exercise at Naval Region 3 Headquarters, Royal Malaysian Navy naval base, Langkawi, Kedah and the North Malaccan strait.
The opening ceremony for the exercise was launched by First Admiral Dato’ Mior Rosdi bin Dato’ Mior Haji Jaafar, the Chief in command for Naval Region 3 onboard KD Selangor this morning. Participants from both Navies were also present during the ceremony. This year, the exercise will involve Field Training Exercise where a total of three phases which includes a harbor phase, sea phase and closing phase.
A total of 300 personnel from both Navies is involve in this exercise. KD SELANGOR and KD KINABALU will be the participating ship from the Royal Malaysian Navy whereas KDB DARUSSALAM will represent Brunei. This exercise will see Commander Mohd Amin bin Mat Tahir, RMN, who is also the Commanding Officer of KD SELANGOR leading the exercise as the Commander Task Group and Lt Col (L) Muhammad Hadi Syariffuddin bin Abdullah Mega, RBN, Commanding Officer of KDB DARUSSALAM as the Deputy Commander Task Group.
Over the past decades, Brunei have enjoyed a tremendous working partnership with Malaysia, Exercise Hornbill is a good platform to showcase the profound teamwork that exist between both Navies and also an opportunity to improve the professionalism of both organization. The closing ceremony will be officiated onboard KDB DARUSSALAM, organized by its crew and lead by the Commanding Officer, Lt Col (L) Muhammad Hadi Syariffuddin bin Abdullah Mega.
