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Mista
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PIONEER - SAF to sharpen capabilities & ramp up training, digitalisation efforts: Dr Ng
PIONEER, Singapore
www.mindef.gov.sg
SAF TO SHARPEN CAPABILITIES & RAMP UP TRAINING, DIGITALISATION EFFORTS
The complex geopolitical situation arising from Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to increasing contestation among countries and increased military spending. It's anybody's guess how long peace can continue in Asia, so it is important for the SAF to stay watchful and nimble.This is the key message made by defence minister Dr Ng Eng Hen in his interview on 30 Jun, ahead of SAF Day which falls on 1 Jul.
"For MINDEF and the SAF, it means that we have to be vigilant and use this peace (before more changes occur) to strengthen our defences," he said.
Strengthening defence ties
In the area of diplomacy, Dr Ng noted that Singapore had inked seven new defence agreements with Canada, China, France, Japan and the Republic of Korea at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue in June.The SAF has also continued to pay attention to existing transnational threats such as counterterrorism, cybersecurity, and maritime security.
For example, the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF's) Counter-Terrorism Information Facility (CTIF) was set up in 2021 and continues operations despite the COVID-19 pandemic.
The CTIF brings together like-minded countries to share intelligence, and provides early warning, monitoring and analysis capabilities in a centralised and coordinated manner.
Setting up the SAF's fourth Service
Dr Ng noted the upcoming addition of the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) is a recognition that the digital frontier is another area of operations where Singapore can be threatened."There's this realisation and you can see it happening all around, especially during the Ukraine invasion.
"So for the SAF, we have to use this period of relative peace to complete our capability development and to mature the capabilities of our Services, including the fourth Service – the DIS."
Dr Ng said MINDEF will introduce a bill in Parliament next week to amend the SAF Act and the Constitution, to allow the DIS to be set up alongside the Army, Navy and Air Force.
If the bill is passed, the DIS will have its inauguration parade later this year, and its Service Chief appointed, he added.
To train cyber defenders, DIS will set up a Digital Ops-Tech Centre (DOTC) and Centre of Excellence for Cyber Range.
The DOTC will equip the SAF with a quick response force to meet new operational requirements on the digital frontier.
The equivalent of physical ranges and training grounds, the Centre of Excellence for Cyber Range will be used for training cyber soldiers.
The SAF is expanding recruitment efforts by tapping on digital experts, including mid-career professionals, said Dr Ng.
The SAF has also expanded its C4X and DCX career schemes to include C4X (Digital) and DCX (Digital).
The C4X scheme is for uniformed Command, Control, Communications and Computers Expert personnel, while the DCX scheme is for non-uniformed Defence Cyber Expert personnel.
Those in C4X (Digital) and DCX (Digital) will specialise in software engineering, app development, data science, artificial intelligence, and cloud architecting.
The number of top-tier scholarships will also be increased for digital and intelligence talents.
Resumption of large-scale training
To sharpen its combat capabilities, the SAF had restarted large-scale exercises, said Dr Ng.For example, the annual Exercise Wallaby – which will be held later this year in Australia – is expected to involve about 4,000 troops.
"The SAF has a large global training footprint, and we are going to resume and reach, if not surpass, pre-COVID levels," he said.
Asset acquisition & new training facilities on track
Dr Ng also gave an update on the SAF's hardware acquisition.The Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN's) first Invincible-class submarine will be delivered to Singapore in 2023, and will be ready for operations, he noted.
Additional Invincible-class submarines are expected to be launched by the end of this year, he added.
Also in the pipeline are new multi-role combat vessels to replace the aging Victory-class Missile Corvettes.
For the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), its first Smart A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) is expected to be delivered in the coming months this year.
"It will not only save time, but also reduce errors – that's smart technology," said Dr Ng.
And the RSAF's order for four F-35 Joint Strike Fighters remains on track for delivery in 2026, he added. "Basic requirements have been agreed on with the US (United States) Air Force."
RSAF personnel have undergone professional exchanges and training with other F-35 users and in the F-35 tactical simulators.
They also have exclusive interactions with F-35 users at study conferences, and go on technical study trips to F-35 maintenance facilities and bases.
These allow the RSAF to better understand the aircraft's advanced capabilities and determine its integration requirements with the rest of the SAF's warfighting system.
For the Army, SAFTI City – a realistic training environment that mirrors an urbanised city centre – will open in phases next year.
First up would be its Murai Urban Battle Circuit, which will become operational in mid-2023. Soldiers and smart targets will be equipped with sensors for monitoring and data capturing.
"(Technology and instrumentation allows you to) actually gauge attrition loss and whether the battle is won… That will enhance our realistic training," said Dr Ng.
Increasing digitalisation efforts
Dr Ng highlighted how the SAF is tapping on innovation and digitalisation to enhance its operational efficiency and training.He gave the example of how the Navy's Littoral Mission Vessels (LMVs) are using predictive analytics for pre-emptive maintenance as well pre-emptively order and deliver spares.
This model will be extended to Chinook helicopters and other platforms, he said.
The RSAF is also tapping on technology such as virtual and mixed reality in training simulators. The SPYDER (Surface-to-Air PYthon-5 and DERby) missile loading training simulator, for instance, allows Air Defence Systems Specialist (ADSS) trainees to sharpen their skills and build their confidence before going hands-on with the actual SPYDER air defence system.
Smart technologies will be deployed in all army camps to enhance administrative processes and free up more time for training.
Servicemen can book facilities and access training programmes on the go. They can also scan their 11B identification cards and their biometrics to draw stores and weapons on their own.
The roll-out will start with Stagmont Camp in 2023, Clementi and Kranji Camp in 2024, and the rest of the army camps from 2025 onwards.
A smart camp companion app to track and meet servicemen's needs on security, supplies of essential goods, arms, munitions, and more will be rolled out progressively from next year, said Dr Ng.
Going forward, the SAF will appoint a Chief Digitalisation Officer (CDO) to drive and oversee the armed forces' digital transformation, Dr Ng announced. The CDO will report to the Chief of Defence Force.
Enhancing NS experience
Noting that this year is the 55th anniversary of National Service (NS), Dr Ng highlighted that the SAF is maximising the contributions of Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs). For example, NSFs can now kick-start their seafaring aspiration while serving NS.From 1 Jul this year, NSFs – both past and present – who graduated from Nautical Studies or Marine Engineering with diplomas can apply to have their sea-time serving on board RSN ships recognised.
This will help to facilitate their attainment of Certificate of Competencies (COC) – which is required if they want to pursue a career as a deck officer or marine engineer officer on board merchant ships.
The DIS will also enlist its first batch of digital specialists early next year, following the signing of an Memorandum of Understanding between MINDEF and Nanyang Technological University (NTU) earlier this year, said Dr Ng.
Under this Digital Work-Learn Scheme, NSFs serving as Digital Specialists can earn academic credits at NTU that contribute to a degree in Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science or Computer Engineering.
Rounding up his interview, Dr Ng concluded: "Singaporeans must gird ourselves for (a) troubled decade ahead (or) even longer. The SAF will do its part – it will stand vigilant to guard Singapore's peace and sovereignty."
Mista
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Anyway just happened...
RSAF jets activated as man arrested for allegedly making bomb threat on S'pore-bound SIA plane
A 37-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly making a bomb threat on board a Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from San Francisco that landed in Singapore early on Wednesday morning. Read more at stomp.straitstimes.com
stomp.straitstimes.com
dbc
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you got me to lolz
Mista
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SAF formally establishes Digital and Intelligence Service
The Singapore Armed Forces now has four services: Digital and Intelligence Service, the Army, Navy and the Air Force.
Mista
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Commentary: A deep dive into the strategic significance of Singapore’s new submarines
In World War II, Allied submarines and surface combatants conducted massive operations across the Pacific theatre to sink Japanese cargo ships conducting resupply missions across the Japanese military installations.
Commentary: A deep dive into the strategic significance of Singapore’s new submarines
In World War II, Allied submarines and surface combatants conducted massive operations across the Pacific theatre to sink Japanese cargo ships conducting resupply missions across the Japanese military installations.
In a war of attrition, these submarines sank more than three quarters of the Japanese merchant fleet over a three-year period, disrupting and crippling Japan’s sea lines of communication (SLOC).
Even today, food, grain and goods shipment transiting in and out of the Black Sea shipping lanes was disrupted during the onset of the Ukraine-Russia war, resulting in a cascading effect in the global food security, prices and supply chain.
Events like these have proven that SLOC can be weaponised in an event of heightened tension. And in a world of growing geopolitical uncertainties, SLOC and the globalised world continue to face threats of disruptions from the seas.
Modern navies today are seeing the value of submarines and are using them to complement surface combatants as a silent deterrence in the seas.
Submarines that can prowl large swaths of water virtually undetected are now elevated to a strategic weapon to counter threats both on the surface and sub-surface.
Despite its relatively small numbers and tonnage, its stealth and heavy armaments give it the ability to cripple surface forces several times its size.
PROTECTING SLOCS
Singapore — with its SLOC extending far beyond the Straits of Malacca to the West, and South China Sea to the East — is vulnerable to having its SLOC being cut off, even for events not close to home.To add to its capability in protecting its SLOC, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) embarked on its submarine journey in 1995 and began debunking myths that submarines were not suitable for shallow waters.
The strategic nature of submarines means they can be deployed in the event of hostilities to disable aggressor forces attempting to cut off Singapore’s SLOCs, or even cripple them in port. The notion that a submarine is there, in itself, is a psychological deterrence to naval commanders.
There have been success stories of how RSN’s Challenger and Archer-class boats are able to evade and penetrate modern anti-submarine warfare (ASW) screens set up by professional navies such as the United States and Australian navies, securing “hits” on its intended targets.
For example, the RSN shared in 2019 that RSS Swordsman remained undetected in multi-lateral war game Bersama Lima 2018, which saw participation of air and naval assets from Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and United Kingdom.
It is with such confidence that Singapore embarked on its next-generation submarine fleet, starting with a clean slate with the Type 218SG Invincible-class submarines.
After almost 30 years of submarine operations, RSN knew what it wanted and what it didn’t. Hence, Type 218SGs are modified for Singapore’s unique requirements.
These include materials suited for saline tropical waters and novel computer and automation technologies to reduce operator’s workload.
In light of the busy maritime traffic around Singapore’s seas, the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) packed the combat management systems with new data analytics and artificial intelligence software to automatically plot and classify sonar contacts, and provide navigation and tactical recommendations to the operators.
The new electric X-rudder drive allows these submarines to execute sharp and precise movements in shallow waters.
The Fuel-cell Air Independent Propulsion (AIP) system on the Type 218SG is also not found on other regional submarines. With nearly no moving parts, the AIP makes the RSN’s submarines among the most silent in Asia Pacific.
Not only saving costs for unnecessary modifications, it also future-proofs the submarine for new systems and manpower requirements.
The first Type 218SG submarine, Invincible, was launched in February 2019. The second and third boats, Impeccable and Illustrious, were launched on Dec 13 at a ceremony officiated by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Mrs Lee as the Lady sponsor.
TIMELY INVESTMENT
Singapore’s investment into new submarines comes at a time when submarine proliferation in the region is picking up.Over the last two decades, the regional submarine fleet has more than doubled; Myanmar, Vietnam are new entrants while Thailand is seeking to start its own. Indonesia and China are on their way to expand their current fleets.
However, for the RSN, it is the nearly 30 years of continuous sub-surface experience that becomes an intangible military asset to complement modern submarines.
The above-mentioned examples show that RSN commanders have the ability to navigate older submarines to “defeat” modern warships.
Now fluent in Swedish and German submarine theories and distilled for Singaporean operating concepts, the new submarines — equipped with wider range of sensors, payload, automation and increased stealth — will allow RSN submariners to better maximise their skills over a longer period of time underwater and with greater effect.
Over the years, RSN’s professional stature has been elevated, which helps it attract high-level training opportunities with other navies looking to put its anti-submarine warfare skills to the test.
Even without sailing on one, RSN submariners are pushing training limits now with the new integrated submarine training suite.
TRAINING BREAKTHROUGHS
With a digital twin known as the virtual procedure trainer as its backbone, it links with the command and dive simulators and a maintenance trainer, enabling the entire set of submarine crew to conduct drills simultaneously.Such progress in training methodology is believed to be among the first in the world.
At the launch ceremony of Impeccable and Illustrious in Kiel, Germany, PM Lee also announced the establishment of the Submarine Affiliation Programme between the two countries.
The programme will see both navies conducting professional two-way exchange of best practices on submarine training. Such exchanges are likely to evolve into operational ones as ties deepen.
As the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) move towards its SAF 2040 vision, RSN submarines will be no lone wolves.
In a network-centric SAF, submarines will provide and receive valuable intelligence from assets across the air, land and sea, as a single fighting unit.
Submarines will work even closer with unmanned systems, or even deploying on their own for reconnaissance purposes.
As operational tempo hastens, demands on sailors will increase.
It is through constant training and sailing that the boat commanders will be able to effect the silent arts of submarine warfare and dominate the naval arena.
Song Hong
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Type 218 is a watered down version of Type 214. This is clearly a blue water weapon, not defensive. No hostile foreign submarine can survive in Singapore water. There are massive arrays of sonar sensors.
But Singapore is not going to attack Malaysia or Indonesia. So I wonder what is the operational objective of Type 218.
But Singapore is not going to attack Malaysia or Indonesia. So I wonder what is the operational objective of Type 218.
Indos
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