SINGAPORE: For the first time, Singapore's F-16 fighter pilots dropped live 900-kilogramme laser-guided bombs in air-to-ground manoeuvres, during an exercise in the United States.

More than 540 soldiers and airmen from the SAF are taking part in the exercise, codenamed Exercise Forging Sabre (XFS) 2009, from November 1 to 24 at Fort Sill in Oklahoma.

The exercise is touted as the most complex integrated strike exercise by the SAF, involving its air and land forces.

On the ground, commando ground forces had to trek over rugged terrain and deal with the cold, as night temperatures could be as low of 2 degrees Celsius. And in the air, F-16 fighter jets and Apache attack helicopters have been honing their search-and-strike skills.

The newly acquired High Mobility Artillery Rocket System also made its public debut.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean was present to witness the live firing exercise on Wednesday morning.

"It represents an important step. It is an important exercise in our transformation journey and this journey will continue for many years. And we look at bringing to bear all the new technologies and ideas in as effective a manner as possible," said Brigadier-General Tan Chuan-Jin, director, Exercise Forging Sabre.

Major General David Halverson, Commanding General of Fort Sill, said: "I was impressed with the teamwork approach and the war fighting capability of the Singaporean forces, the air force and army forces and their ability to work in the coldest environment - to deploy here, to get set up so quickly."

This is the first time the US military has gazetted an area within Fort Sill - a US Army base that trains field artillery soldiers and marines - for an exercise of this nature.

Major General Halverson said the exercise is about building trust. He added: "Coming together here, like in Fort Sill, and to be able to have this dialogue and show this trust and confidence, gives us all better trust and confidence because in today's world, it is about coalitions, it is about partnerships that make us strong."

On its part, Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) said the US' support for the exercise is a reflection of the longstanding and excellent defence ties between Singapore and the US.

This year's Forging Sabre exercise is the second in a series which began in 2005. The first exercise was also held in the United States.

- CNA/sc