UAV TASK GROUP AND ARTILLERY TRAINERS IN AFGHANISTAN

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) deployed a 52-man Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Task Group to Afghanistan. This is part of Singapore's overall contribution to the multinational stabilisation and reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan, which also saw the deployment of four institutional trainers to the capital city of Kabul on 21 Aug.

The UAV Task Group commenced operations today and will be deployed until 30 Nov. During its deployment, it will operate out of the multinational base in Tarin Kowt, the provincial capital of Oruzgan, and augment the International Security Assistance Force's (ISAF s) intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. They will carry out assigned tasks, such as the surveillance of key roads to enhance security.

The four institutional trainers started their operations a week earlier and will be deployed until 20 Dec. They will assist in the ISAF's efforts to train the Afghan National Army (ANA) in an artillery school in Kabul, and will advise the ANA on the development, design and administration of various artillery courses. A second team of 10 institutional trainers will take over their duties in December and be deployed for four months till 30 Apr 2011.

The SAF has been making deployments to Afghanistan since May 2007. Currently, the SAF has a six-man construction engineering team in Bamiyan province, as well as a 21-man Weapon Locating Radar team at the Tarin Kowt base. Earlier this year, an eight-man SAF surgical team was also deployed to a field hospital at the same base to provide surgical and medical support, as well as emergency medical care for the Afghan locals.