Fact Sheet: Overview of Exercise Wallaby 2026

23 October 2026 Fact Sheet: Overview of Exercise Wallaby 2026 The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting the 36th edition of Exercise Wallaby (XWB) from 6 September to 2 November 2026. Held annually since its inauguration in 1990, XWB is the SAF’s largest overseas unilateral exercise. It is held in Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) in Queensland, Australia. Approximately five times the size of Singapore, SWBTA allows the SAF to exercise its full range of capabilities and conduct cross-service integrated training that cannot be replicated in Singapore. This year’s edition of XWB involves approximately 6,000 personnel and 1,200 platforms from the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) [1] . XWB will also involve engineers and technologists from the Defence Technology Community (DTC), including MINDEF’s Future Systems and Technology Directorate (FSTD), the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), and DSO National Laboratories, underscoring the strong operations-technology partnership with the use of emerging capabilities and new operating concepts in the field. Notably, participation from the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) increased in XWB26, with volunteers serving in diverse roles including nurses, radiographers and transport operators. The exercise is conducted over three training frames: Frame 1: 6 to 26 September 2026. Frame 1 involved the Singapore Army’s Armour, Combat Engineers, Infantry, Guards, Signals and Transport units, coordinated by Headquarters, 4th Singapore Armoured Brigade (HQ 4 SAB). The participating RSAF assets include the C-130 transport aircraft, AH-64D and CH-47F helicopters, SHIKRA radar and the Air-Land Tactical Control Centre (ALTaCC). The 42nd Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (42 SAR) underwent a battalion evaluation to validate its operational competencies in conducting mechanised manoeuvre, supported by the 11th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion (11 C4I Bn) and RSAF assets, while operating against an Opposing Force (OPFOR). The evaluation included Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) live-firing and culminated in a manoeuvre live-firing exercise that tested the unit’s ability to coordinate firepower from the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs) and execute tactical scenarios under realistic battlefield conditions. The 38th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (38 SCE) underwent a battalion evaluation, in conjunction with 42 SAR’s battalion evaluation, to validate competencies in mobility, counter-mobility and survivability tasks. The evaluation leveraged SWBTA’s large and rugged terrain to replicate operational challenges in supporting manoeuvre forces across long distances. The Guards Training Centre (GTC) utilised SWBTA’s vast cross-country terrain and airspace to conduct pathfinder and manoeuvre training with the Light Strike Vehicle Mark II, including integrated training with the RSAF. The RSAF utilised SWBTA’s large airspace to conduct realistic and complex integrated training. The C-130 transport aircraft conducted airdrop with Army’s 3rd Transport and Guards Training Centre. The AH-64D attack helicopter conducted Close Air Support missions and live-firing with the Light Strike Vehicle platoons, and the CH-47F heavy lift helicopters conducted troop lift, underslung for bikes and light strike vehicles, and casualty evacuation missions in support of the 42 SAR. The RSAF continued to trial with new operational use cases for AI. One example was for the quick-cycle development of the proof of concept for the Helicopter Decision Support System (Heli DSS) with the RSAF Agile Innovation Digital (RAiD) unit. The Heli DSS is an AI-enabled system to enhance helicopter mission planning and decision making to enhance mission success, and was trialled with the CH-47F. The Heli DSS would enable our aircrew to save time on coordination, while enhancing effectiveness and lethality on the battlefield. Frame 2: 27 September to 17 October 2026. Frame 2 involved the Singapore Army’s Infantry, Combat Engineers, Signals, Transport and Combat Service Support units, including operationally ready National Servicemen (NSmen), coordinated by Headquarters, 2nd Singapore Infantry Brigade (HQ 2 SIB). It also included the participation of the RSAF’s Drone Rapid Operationalisation, Integration and Deployment (DROID), Ground-Based Air Defence (GBAD) systems, and Orbiter 4 (O4) Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. Headquarters, 12th Singapore Infantry Brigade (HQ 12 SIB), an NS Motorised Combined Arms Brigade, conducted Exercise GIANTSTRIDE, a Command Post Exercise (CPX) that integrated computer wargaming with field training involving 1 SIR. The exercise was supported by the 91st Combat Service Support Battalion (91 CSSB) and the 16th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion (16 C4I Bn). As part of Exercise GIANTSTRIDE, 1 SIR conducted a battalion mission exercise before undergoing Stage 2 of its battalion evaluation by the Army Training Evaluation Centre (ATEC). 1 SIR was supported by the 30th Battalion, Singapore Combat Engineers (30 SCE) and 38 SCE, which conducted battlefield mobility and bridging tasks. 11 C4I Bn operated its V-15 mini-Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (mUAVs) in support of manoeuvre units, providing aerial surveillance to enhance their situational awareness. The complexity and scale of RSAF training in Frame 2 was increased with the participation of additional air and ground assets such as the O4 UAV, the RBS 70 and electronic warfare training supported by 110 Squadron. DROID conducted further trials on the use of drones. The AH-64D was also employed in an air defence role against larger UAS, a class of threat seen in many recent conflicts. Such training adapts the current capabilities of the RSAF for the evolving threat environment. The proof of concept for the Digitally-Aided Close Air Support (DACAS) application, jointly developed by the RSAF, DSTA and ST Engineering, was conducted. DACAS enables information to be exchanged digitally between the on-ground strike controllers and the strike aircraft during Close Air Support missions. DACAS improves operational effectiveness compared to the existing mode of coordination via analogue voice communications. The RSAF also employed the Orbiter 4 UAV during training to build operator proficiency and to support the Army’s manoeuvre by providing Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Personnel from the DIS’s Digital Defence Command defended against electronic attacks such as jamming or spoofing. Personnel from the DIS’s Joint Intelligence Command also trialled with drone technology for rapid mapping, to provide high fidelity geospatial mapping support for the SAF. Frame 3: 18 October to 2 November 2026. Frame 3 involves the Singapore Army’s Infantry, Armour, Signals, Army Intelligence and Transport units, coordinated by Headquarters, 3rd Singapore Infantry Brigade (HQ 3 SIB). It also involves the RSAF’s CH-47F troop lift with Army’s 42 SAR, AH-64D integrated live-firing with Army’s 42 SAR Bionix, O4 UAV trainings and continued trials. The 408th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (408 SAR) will conduct a company-level mission exercise and live-firing with the Armour Live Firing System (ALFS). The integrated live-firing will involve 408 SAR’s Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs) and the RSAF’s AH-64D attack helicopters, strengthening coordination and interoperability between Army and RSAF units. 408 SAR will be the first NS Armour unit to conduct live-firing using the ALFS in XWB, demonstrating the operational proficiency of our NSmen. The 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR) will employ unmanned systems and digital capabilities to test and refine the Next-Generation Infantry Battalion (NGIB)’s capabilities and operating concepts under realistic training conditions. The battalion will conduct motorised company training and Terrex static live-firing, including the firing of the 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher (AGL). On 28 October, 5 SIR will also conduct platoon urban operations live-firing at SWBTA’s Urban Operations Live-Fire Facilities (UOLF), marking the first time that full-time National Servicemen (NSFs) will undergo live-firing at the facilities. Headquarters, Signals and DSTA will evaluate the 5G-enabled Aerial Communications Node (ACN) and Counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS), amongst other operational field trial efforts, to validate their operational utility and potential integration into SAF operations. The 17th Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence Battalion (17 C4I Bn) will deploy its Digitised Trunk Communication Systems (D-TCS) to exercise its ability to bridge communications across forces in the vast terrain of SWBTA. In addition to the integrated live-firing involving the AH-64D, the RSAF will also conduct a range of air operations, including heliborne missions involving the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters and CH-47F Chinook helicopters. These include troop lift and underslung operations with the Army’s 408 SAR and troop lift with the Army’s 3rd Brigade Support Company (3 BSC). These training allow our aircrew and ground crew to hone their operational competencies in the conduct of integration operations across SAF. The RSAF also conducted trials with drones from the CH-47F helicopter, which could be used to extend the aircrew’s visual coverage and provide last-mile surveillance for complex operations. Ops-Tech Partnership. During XWB, FSTD, DSTA and DSO partner with the SAF to evaluate novel concepts of operation and capabilities in the field to bridge the gap between emerging technologies and operational solutions. To enable rapid technology adaptation, DTC engineers and technologists work alongside SAF personnel to develop, test and refine solutions in the field. Operator feedback informs changes to technologies, operating concepts and training, enabling capabilities and people to evolve together as operational needs change. At this year’s XWB, new technology applications developed by the DTC will undergo trials and evaluation by the SAF, covering areas such as unmanned systems, artificial intelligence, counter-unmanned aircraft systems, next-generation battlefield connectivity and digital mission planning. Looking ahead, the DTC will continue to collaborate closely with the SAF to field and refine new technologies for SAF operations. Forward Support Group. To support XWB across the three frames, the SAF has deployed a Forward Support Group (FSG) to provide medical, logistical, maintenance and transportation support to training units, from pre-exercise preparation through to post-exercise recovery. The FSG also serves as the primary custodian of the training area, ensuring that training resources are well managed and remain operational, while supporting the safe conduct of training. [1] This includes the DIS’s Digital and Intelligence Systems Engineers (DISEs) who are supporting the RSAF in the exercise, to ensure system connectivity for exercise training. Back to top