In response to the massive earthquake which struck West Sumatra province, Indonesia on 30th September 2009 and 1st October 2009, the SCDF has deployed an overseas rescue contingent (codenamed Operation Lionheart) to Padang City, Sumatra.

Led by LTC Kadir Maideen, Commander of 2nd CD Division, the 42-member Operation Lionheart Contingent included experienced officers from SCDF"s elite Disaster Assistance & Rescue Team (DART).

The SCDF Operation Lionheart Contingent was on the verge of departing yesterday evening for the earthquake-hit city of Padang, West Sumatra, when they were informed by the Indonesian authorities that they were not yet ready to receive foreign assistance.

The contingent departed from Paya Lebar Airbase at 2100hrs (local time) today onboard two RSAF C-130 military aircrafts. Commissioner Peter Lim, Commissioner SCDF was at Paya Lebar Airbase to send off the contingent.

Upon arrival at Padang City, the Lionheart Contingent will link up with the local authorities for a briefing before being deployed to assigned areas to carry out search and rescue operations. The contingent brought along a host of rescue equipment like fibre-optic scopes, life detector systems and hydraulic cutters and spreaders. 4 search dogs are also part of this mission.

SCDF maintains a rescue contingent on 24-hour standby under the codename Operation Lionheart to provide rescue and humanitarian assistance and support to countries stricken by major disasters. The current mission being undertaken is the 11th such mission. Since its formation in 1990, the Operation Lionheart contingent had responded to 10 overseas missions.

Below is the breakdown of the missions:

- Baguio City earthquake, Philippines - Jul 1990
- Highland Towers collapse in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Dec 1993
- Tai Chung County earthquake in Taiwan - Sep 1999
- Asian Tsunami Disaster, Aceh, Indonesia - Dec 2004
- Asian Tsunami Disaster, Khao Lak, Thailand - Dec 2004
- Sumatra Earthquake, Nias Island, Indonesia - Mar 2005
- Rokan Hilir Bush Fires, Sumatra, Indonesia - Aug 2005
- South Asian Earthqua-e, Muzaffarabad, Pakistan - Oct 2005
- Central Java Earthquake, Indonesia - May 2006
- Sichuan Earthquake, China - May 2008