Here’s What Happens When Commandos From Neighbouring Countries Train Together
This story is part of our series uncovering the Singapore Armed Forces’ overseas exercises, where our defenders train far from home to keep us safe in the Lion City.
Not every Singapore-Indonesia story is about holidays in Bali or queueing for ayam penyet. Some are about grit, discipline, and a brotherhood forged in the toughest conditions.
That’s because beyond food and travel, Singapore has a long history of mutual cooperation and bilateral defence ties with Indonesia. This includes cross-attendance of military courses and joint training exercises. Just last week, our Commandos took part in one such training exercise with their Indonesian counterparts: Exercise Chandrapura.
What exactly is Exercise Chandrapura?
First conducted in 1994, Exercise Chandrapura (XCP) is a bilateral exercise conducted between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) 1st Commando Battalion and the Indonesian National Defence Forces (TNI) Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS).
Singapore and Indonesia take turns hosting the exercise, and XCP 2025 was held from 2 to 8 September 2025 in Singkawang, Indonesia, marking the 31st edition of the exercise.
Soldiers from the SAF Commandos and TNI KOPASSUS boarding the CH-47 in preparation for the static line parachute jump. | IMAGE: MINDEF
This year’s chapter in Singkawang
Participants in XCP exchanged professional knowledge on Commando tactics, techniques, and operational planning. XCP also saw the Commandos execute an airborne static line jump (in which a cord attaches a soldier’s parachute to the aircraft), culminating in a field training exercise on jungle warfare where both armed forces jointly launched an attack on an enemy objective.
Soldiers from the SAF Commandos and TNI KOPASSUS advancing to secure their objective during the Field Training Exercise. | IMAGE: MINDEF
“The exercise highlights the commitment to our mutual cooperation between Singapore and Indonesia’s Armed Forces, especially between the Commandos and KOPASSUS,” said SAF 1st Commando Battalion Commanding Officer LTC Kok Yi Long. “Today, the participants in front of us, [stand] testament to this network of friendships, brotherhood, and special trust that are built from our past cooperation.”
Soldiers from the SAF Commandos and TNI KOPASSUS undergoing the Jungle Warfare Sharing. | IMAGE: MINDEF
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