HQIADS Staff Visit to the United Kingdom 2026
Commander Integrated Area Defence System (CIADS) led a delegation on the United Kingdom Staff Visit 2026 from 20 June to 2 July 2026, strengthening the longstanding defence relationships, professional understanding and partnerships that underpin the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). The delegation comprised 14 HQIADS staff and six representatives from the Malaysian and Singaporean International Policy Divisions and Defence Attaché network.
The visit combined strategic, operational and tactical-level engagements across UK Defence with cultural and historical activities designed to deepen mutual understanding. The delegation visited the Ministry of Defence and Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office in London, Permanent Joint Headquarters at Northwood, Army Headquarters, MOD Corsham, RAF Waddington and RAF Coningsby. These engagements provided valuable insight into UK military capabilities, strategic priorities, emerging technologies and approaches to integrated operations across the maritime, land, air, space, cyber and electromagnetic domains.
A key focus of the visit was to better understand the United Kingdom’s future training requirements and explore how the FPDA could support these needs through increasingly integrated and multinational activity. Professional discussions provided an opportunity to identify areas where the capabilities, experience and training opportunities offered through the FPDA could complement UK requirements while strengthening interoperability across all five nations.
Alongside the professional programme, visits to significant cultural and historical locations including the Tower of London, HMS Belfast, Bath, Burghley House and Lincoln provided an opportunity for delegates to experience the United Kingdom’s rich history and culture, further strengthening personal relationships and mutual understanding. Collectively, the visit reinforced the value of sustained professional engagement between FPDA partners and highlighted opportunities to further develop integrated training, interoperability and cooperation across the Arrangements.