The Five Power Defence Arrangement (FPDA) nations successfully concluded this year’s Exercise Bersama Lima.
This multinational exercise marks another milestone in fostering regional security and cooperation.
Over three weeks, more than 4,000 defence personnel from Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the United Kingdom came together in the Indo-Pacific to enhance interoperability, strengthen professional relationships, and demonstrate unity across all domains.
The United Kingdom’s contribution to this year’s exercise included Individual Augmentees, RAF Voyager and A400M crews, 148 Battery Royal Artillery, and personnel from the UK Carrier Strike Group (CSG). A key highlight was the integration of the CSG, which operated alongside the Malaysian and Singaporean coastlines, showcasing the FPDA’s ability to adapt and evolve in response to modern challenges. This collaboration culminated in a multinational flypast involving aircraft from FPDA nations, symbolising the strength of the partnership.
“Exercise Bersama Lima has been an excellent opportunity to integrate with our FPDA allies in the Indo-Pacific. We are deeply grateful to our Malaysian hosts for their hospitality. The UK’s contribution this year, particularly the integration of the Carrier Strike Group under Operation Highmast, has set a new benchmark for our participation in the Bersama series. We look forward to continuing this collaboration during Bersama Shield and Lima 26.”
Lieutenant Commander Cooke, Deputy National Representative UK
The RAF Voyager played a pivotal role, landing in Singapore to conduct air-to-air refuelling with UK F-35Bs, while the RAF A400M carried out joint training sorties with Royal Australian Air Force F-35As from Kuantan Airbase in Malaysia. Across air, land, and sea, FPDA personnel demonstrated mutual respect, cohesion, and a shared commitment to regional stability.
“Exercise Bersama Lima 2025 has been an excellent opportunity to strengthen teamwork. Collaborating with our Malaysian, Singaporean, New Zealand, and Australian counterparts to coordinate over 38 aircraft and multiple support platforms across air, land, and sea has been a significant undertaking, but it has highlighted the exceptional level of interoperability we share.”
As part of the Combat Plans team, ensuring every aircraft was integrated into the Air Tasking Order and operated safely in such a dynamic airspace was both challenging and rewarding. The trust, professionalism, and camaraderie among the nations have been outstanding. This exercise not only tested our capabilities but also reinforced our shared commitment to promoting stability and security in the Southeast Asian region."
Flight Lieutenant Still
