12 February 2008
Two battalions from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) arrived in Waiouru this summer for the eleventh year of Thunder Warrior, the annual artillery exercise that has occurred on the plateau since 1997.
This year’s rendition had an increased NZDF effort than previously, with the first combined live firing element since the exercises inception.
In 2008, Thunder Warrior involved about 500 personnel from two SAF battalions (23 and 24 Singapore Artillery), SAF Military Intelligence Battalion, 7 SIB (Guards) and a single six gun Kapyong Battery 16th Field Regiment Royal NZ Artillery. In another first, the SAF also incorporated PEGASUS, a Singaporean designed and made heli-portable and selfpropelled super light weight 155mm calibre howitzer.
Commanding Officer of 16th Field Regiment, LTCOL Nick Gillard, said the exercise is a valued component of their annual training and indicative of the increasing “coalition” element in military activity.
Exercise Thunder Warrior was previously supported in a liaison, logistical and safety role by the NZDF, however this year saw a combined capability. LTCOL Gillard said some of the key issues working with a military partner in an exercise such as Thunder Warrior, were process and procedure (S.O.P) differences.
“Particularly in artillery exercises like this, differences can be fundamental at a forward observer and command post capacity.”
There is also potential to widen the scope of the relationship between the two forces in future exercises, particularly Thunder Warrior.
“It is baby steps at the moment but we are developing many of the processes this year mindful of future activity,” LTCOL Gillard said. Although Thunder Warrior 08 is artillery focused, both the SAF and the NZDF had a variety of military hardware on display.
Further to the PEGASUS, the SAF 23rd Battalion had the FH2000 Light Weight Howitzers firing again this year as well as mini-unmanned aerial vehicles (mini-UAV ’s) from their military intelligence battalion flying.
Other SAF assets exhibited during Thunder Warrior included the SPIKE missile application which mounts onto a light strike vehicle and is supported by reconnaissance units and ANTPQ-37 and ARTHUR locating radars. The key NZDF asset was the six-gun Kapyong battery unit from 16th Fd Regt.
Whilst the 16 Fd 105mm howitzer has a smaller range of 11.4km to the PEGASUS (30 km with extended range ammunition), a number of British and US Marine Corp troops are currently using the Howitzer in Afghanistan and Iraq because of their strategic mobility capacity.
During 2008 16 Fd Regt will be conducting a battle lab to enhance the current L119’s range, accuracy and responsiveness.
Other NZDF assets on display included the MISTRAL Very Low Level Air Defence Missile and VACS system as well as the UAV battle-lab project. The exhibition of this type of hardware indicates the wider scope available for the exercise to add to its present artillery training focus.
These developments can only aide the artillery motto of “On Target, On Time.”