Five commonwealth nations combine naval power in Southeast Asia
Five powers, five ships, with HMS Spey closest to camera. (Image credit: Royal Navy/MoD)
Exercise Bersama Lima brought Commonwealth navies together in Malaysian waters.
Members of the historic Commonwealth Five-Power Defence Arrangement sent naval forces into Malaysian territorial waters for this year’s Exercise Bersama Lima.
Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the UK have co-operated on defence in Southeast Asia for 50 years, and the regular Bersama Lima exercises have become a key expression of that co-operation.
Bersama Lima, which means “together five” in Malay, this year saw an appropriate five naval vessels perform exercises and boost their interoperability.
Related Articles
NATO allies gather in Scotland for major naval exercises
The five ships of 2024 were a UK Royal Navy vessel, HMS Spey, two Royal Malaysian Navy warships, frigate KD Lekiu and patrol ship KD Terengganu, and two Singaporean vessels, frigate RSS Formidable and OPV RSS Valour.
On reaching Malaysian territorial waters, they united in several complex naval warfare scenarios, including air defence, escort missions and naval gun firing.
The shooting of the naval gun was guided by specialist spotters from 148 Battery Royal Artillery, which has significant experience in operating behind enemy lines.
The Royal Gurkhas Regiment (1RGR), the Royal Navy’s Diving and Threat Exploitation Group’s Echo Squadron, as well as personnel from all three UK Armed Forces, rounded out British participation in the 2024 exercise.
The exercise, which ran over the course of 18 days, also included 38 aircraft from across the five nations, including Australian F-35s, operating outside Australian territory for the first time, Singaporean F-15 and F-16 fighters, and Malaysian F/A-18Ds.
Such a large, multi-force exercise, involving air, sea and land elements, was designed to not only improve interoperability between the navies of the powers, but to help acclimatise them to conditions in the region, and how to perform under pressure.
More from Naval Warfare
-
![South Korean shipbuilders showcase export ambitions amid ongoing KDDX delays]()
South Korean shipbuilders showcase export ambitions amid ongoing KDDX delays
Hyundai and Hanwha recently unveiled advanced frigate and submarine designs while South Korea eyes new export markets and resolves internal rivalries
-
![US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026]()
US representatives plan to invest $1.6 billion in US Coast Guard inventory in FY2026
The FY26 Homeland Security Bill Markup of the House Committee on Appropriations included resources for the procurement of ships, aircraft and unmanned systems.
-
![US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs]()
US Navy seeks industry partners to address pressing research needs
The Office of Naval Research will host an Industry Engagement Day in August aiming at building new partnerships and advancing its science and technology initiatives in multiple areas.
-
![Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy]()
Raytheon awarded $1.2 billion in contracts for AN/SPY-6(V) radars for the US Navy
Under the most recent contract, the US Navy will receive four additional AN/SPY-6(V) radars, increasing the number of radars under contract to 42. The radars are considered key for expanding the navy’s capability for air defence.
-
![Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer]()
Royal Canadian Navy’s final Harry DeWolf-class vessel to be delivered this summer
The sixth Canada’s Arctic and Offshore Patrol Ship is currently at the final stages of construction within Irving Shipbuilding.
