Flying Fish off Singapore July 24, 2000 Four RAN warships headed north this month to take part in Exercise Flying Fish 2000 , the second in a series of triennial drills involving defence elements from Malaysia, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The exercise was held off Singapore under the auspices of the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). It combined elements of a maritime exercise and an air defence drill. Waters of the South China Sea and the air space of the Malay Peninsula and Singapore were the exercise zones. The exercise involved 32 ships, 89 planes, two submarines and 5000 personnel from the five nations. Australia dispatched HMA Ships ANZAC, SYDNEY, HUON and FARNCOMB. It was the first overseas deployment for the coastal mine hunter HUON and the second overseas exercise for FARNCOMB. RAAF aircraft also attended. The exercise enhanced the inter-operability of FPDA forces and strengthen the defence relationship between the five nations. Australian Defence Minister, Mr John Moore, joined his counterparts and other senior officials of the other nations at the opening ceremony for the exercise at the Tuas Naval Base. Malaysia hosted the first exercise in 1997. This year Singapore was the host. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, Dr Tony Tan, officiated.