RIMBA AIR BASE, Tuesday 3 May 2016 -The ASEAN Defence Ministers’ Meeting-Plus Maritime Security and Counter Terrorism Exercise (ADMM Plus MS & CT) has officially been launched on the 3rd of May with an opening ceremony held at the Multi National Coordination Centre (MNCC) at the Muara Naval Base with a speech by the Commander of Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF), Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Datu Pekerma Jaya Major General Dato Paduka Seri Mohd Tawih bin Abdullah. Following this, the RBAF Commander officiated the ADMM Plus Maritime Security & Counter Terrorism Exercise and activated the Exercise Task Groups.
During the exercise there were not only naval assets deployed (17 ships & 18 helicopters on board) but also maritime patrol aircraft (MPA) such as the P8-A from the United States Navy and the P3K2 Orion from Royal New Zealand Air Force which were involved in conducting maritime patrol and surveillance, as well as Search and Rescue Exercise (SAREX). Whereas the Royal Brunei Air Force deployed their S-70i Blackhawks for flight deck landing and VIP lifts during the visit from His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam, the Minister of Defence and the Supreme Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF).
The aim of this multilateral exercise is to enhance military cooperation and increase interoperability between participating countries in responding to maritime threats co-hosted by the RBAF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) which were part of the 10 ASEAN countries which were also joined by the eight ASEAN Dialogue Partners which are Australia, China, Japan, India, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, and the United States.
The handover for the second leg of the multilateral exercise has been done at the Changi Base in Singapore from the Muara Naval Base in Brunei Darussalam.
