SINGAPORE, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the United States Navy (USN) conducted a combined missile and gun firing in the South China Sea Thursday, according to a statement issued by Singapore's Ministry of Defense.

    Being part of the annual Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) exercise, the firing "featured the conduct of gunfiring by a U.S. Coast Guard Cutter and a RSN Missile Corvette engaging a single air drone target," the statement said.

    Witnessed by Singapore's second Minister for Defense Ng Eng Hen, Barak missiles were also fired in a combined anti-missile and anti-aircraft scenario and all targets were destroyed successfully.

    A total of 1,500 personnel, 11 ships, a submarine as well as fixed and rotary wing aircraft from the two sides are participating in the 15-day exercise, which started on May 30.

    This year's exercise, the 12th in its series, involves all the land, sea and air elements with a focus on conventional maritime warfare competencies, such as anti-air warfare, anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare and maritime air operations. Enditem