PANGKALAN TENTERA LAUT DIRAJA BRUNEI, ISNIN, 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 – Tentera Laut Diraja Brunei (TLDB) dan Tentera Laut Diraja Australia (TLDA) telah memulakan Latihan PENGUIN Siri ke-19, iaitu latihan dua hala di antara kedua-dua negara.
Kapal HMAS BALLARAT daripada TLDA telah tiba di Brunei bagi menyertai Latihan PENGUIN 19/25 bersama TLDB. HMAS BALLARAT yang diketuai oleh Komander Geoffrey Dean Uren telah disambut oleh Pegawai Pemerintah KDB DARUTTAQWA, Leftenan Komander Mohd Aliashim bin Alias, TLDB, bersama pegawai-pegawai, anggota serta Pancaragam TLDB di Jeti Bravo, Pangkalan TLDB, Muara.
Latihan pada tahun ini melibatkan HMAS BALLARAT, Pesawat P-8 Tentera Udara Diraja Australia, KDB DARULAMAN, KDB BERKAT serta Grup Tindakan Permukaan Laut (GTPL) TLDB.
Sempena latihan ini juga, Pegawai Pemerintah HMAS BALLARAT telah mengadakan kunjungan hormat kepada Kepten Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman TLDB, Timbalan Pemerintah TLDB yang juga merangkap selaku Pemangku Pemerintah Armada, di mana kedua-dua pihak menegaskan komitmen terhadap hubungan dua hala yang kukuh antara kedua-dua tentera laut.
Majlis Pembukaan Latihan telah diadakan di Mes Pegawai TLDB dengan disempurnakan oleh Pemangku Pemerintah Armada TLDB. Turut hadir ialah Leftenan Kolonel Paul Sanderson, Penasihat Pertahanan Australia ke Brunei Darussalam, Pegawai Pemerintah HMAS BALLARAT, Pegawai-Pegawai Pemerintah, pegawai serta anggota yang terlibat dalam latihan tersebut.
Dalam ucapan pembukaannya, Kepten Khairil menekankan kepentingan latihan dua hala ini serta berbesar hati kerana dapat memulakan semula latihan tersebut setelah lama tertangguh akibat COVID-19. Latihan ini juga secara tidak langsung mempromosikan diplomasi pertahanan dan mengeratkan persahabatan antara kedua-dua negara.
Latihan PENGUIN 19/2025 merangkumi interaksi dan latihan selama enam hari, termasuk aktiviti Harbour Phase dan Sea Phase Evolutions dengan matlamat untuk memperkukuh hubungan serta persefahaman bersama antara kedua-dua tentera laut. Latihan tahun ini memberi tumpuan khusus kepada perkongsian ilmu dan pengalaman dalam aspek peperangan maritim, operasi keselamatan maritim serta meningkatkan profesionalisme dan kebolehoperasian bersama dalam kalangan kapal-kapal yang terlibat.
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STRENGTHENING PARTNERSHIPS AT SEA: ROYAL BRUNEI NAVY AND AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE FORCE CONDUCT JOINT EXERCISE
MUARA NAVAL BASE, MONDAY, 15 SEPTEMBER 2025 – The Royal Brunei Navy (RBN) and The Royal Australian Navy (RAN) have commenced the 19th Series of the Exercise PENGUIN, the leading bilateral exercise between the two countries.
HMAS BALLARAT from the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) arrived in Brunei to participate in a Bilateral Exercise PENGUIN 19/25 together with the Royal Brunei Navy (RBN). HMAS BALLARAT, who is commanded by Commander Geoffrey Dean Uren, was received and welcomed by Lieutenant Commander Mohd Aliashim bin Alias, RBN, Commanding Officer (CO) KDB DARUTTAQWA alongside RBN officers, personnel and RBN Band at Jetty Bravo, Muara Naval Base.
This year's exercise featured the involvement of HMAS BALLARAT, Royal Australian Air Force P-8 Aircraft, KDB DARULAMAN, KDB BERKAT and RBN Naval Surface Action Group (NAVSAG).
In conjunction with the exercise, Commanding Officer HMAS BALLARAT made a courtesy call to Captain Khairil bin Haji Abdul Rahman, RBN, the Deputy Commander Royal Brunei Navy who also filling as the Acting Fleet Commander RBN, where they affirmed the commitment towards strong bilateral ties between both navies.
The Officiation Ceremony of the exercise was held at the RBN Officers’ Mess where the Acting Fleet Commander RBN initiated the exercise. Also present were Lieutenant Colonel Paul Sanderson, Defence Adviser Australia to Brunei Darussalam, CO HMAS BALLARAT, COs, Officers and ratings involved in the exercise.
In his opening remarks, Captain Khairil highlighted the importance of this bilateral exercise and delighted to restart the exercise after a long pause due to COVID 19. In addition this exercise indirectly promotes defence diplomacy and strengthens friendship between two countries.
Exercise PENGUIN 19/2025 comprises 6-day interaction and exercise which includes Harbour Phase activities and Sea Phase Evolutions with the aspiration to enhance relationship and mutual understanding between the two navies. This year's exercise will particularly focus on sharing knowledge and experience with regards to maritime warfare evolutions and maritime security operations as well as enhancing professionalism and interoperability amongst the ships involved.
