Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA)
The Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) were agreed in 1971 and committed Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and UK to consult in the event of an attack on Singapore or Malaysia. The 30th anniversary in November 2001 was commemorated by the Defence Ministers of all five members and marked a significant milestone for the region’s longest active defence agreement.
The most visible element of the FPDA is the Headquarters of the Integrated Area Defence System. The Headquarters, which is commanded by a Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal, comprises over 40 personnel, drawn from all 5 nations and now from all 3 services.
Having had its initial rôle firmly rooted in the air defence of Malaysian and Singaporean airspace, it is now regularly exercising FPDA forces in both Air Force and Naval operations and is moving towards the fuller integration of Army elements, as directed by the ministers in 2000.
HQ IADS controls a full and varied exercise and training programme, which sees significant assets deployed into theatre. Since 2000, the UK contribution has included a Royal Navy task group, Type 42 destroyers, support vessels, Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft, Tornado fighters and Rapier ground based air defence missile systems.
In 2000, the headquarters of the UK’s 16 Air Assault Brigade, complete with a helicopter, communications and command and control resources also deployed to Ipoh, as it was the UK turn to run the annual land exercise.
Smaller UK contingents participate in this exercise when it is hosted by the other members in their respective countries in turn. The UK also hosts every other year a two week visit by HQ IADS staff to MOD in UK and to various formation headquarters and units.
The UK sees FPDA as a successful and enduring defensive arrangement, and contributes considerable resources to keeping it active and healthy.
The most visible element of the FPDA is the Headquarters of the Integrated Area Defence System. The Headquarters, which is commanded by a Royal Australian Air Force Air Vice Marshal, comprises over 40 personnel, drawn from all 5 nations and now from all 3 services.
Having had its initial rôle firmly rooted in the air defence of Malaysian and Singaporean airspace, it is now regularly exercising FPDA forces in both Air Force and Naval operations and is moving towards the fuller integration of Army elements, as directed by the ministers in 2000.
HQ IADS controls a full and varied exercise and training programme, which sees significant assets deployed into theatre. Since 2000, the UK contribution has included a Royal Navy task group, Type 42 destroyers, support vessels, Nimrod maritime patrol aircraft, Tornado fighters and Rapier ground based air defence missile systems.
In 2000, the headquarters of the UK’s 16 Air Assault Brigade, complete with a helicopter, communications and command and control resources also deployed to Ipoh, as it was the UK turn to run the annual land exercise.
Smaller UK contingents participate in this exercise when it is hosted by the other members in their respective countries in turn. The UK also hosts every other year a two week visit by HQ IADS staff to MOD in UK and to various formation headquarters and units.
The UK sees FPDA as a successful and enduring defensive arrangement, and contributes considerable resources to keeping it active and healthy.
