Ng Eng Hen
Singapore
“I think we try to keep this virtuous state of affairs as long as we can to make sure that we can invest steadily. Year-to-year fluctuations would occur, whether it is economic, not so much in COVID-19, but remember the Global Financial Crisis? Everybody needs to take a haircut. If you have to take a haircut, you have to take a haircut.”
“Mr Chairman, as the World around us becomes more unpredictable and changes, the more we need to keep the strongest commitment to strengthen our own defences and, if needed, we must be willing to do more. Singapore celebrates 60 years of Independence this year.”
“MINDEF will continue to work with partners to encourage Singaporeans to raise their digital literacy, develop and maintain good cybersecurity habits, protect sensitive data and guard against scams, fake news and disinformation so as to make the digital domain a safer and more secure space.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducts regular mobilisation exercises (MOBEX) of our National Service (NS) forces. In a silent mobilisation, NSmen are notified through their personal contact numbers. Open mobilisations include the broadcast of unit code-words through mass media.”
“In 2020, the Ministry of Defence replied to a Parliamentary Question on this matter that the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) would likely occur around 2030 or beyond, after Changi Air Base and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to house the existing assets at PLAB.”
“When incidents or near-misses happen, as it did where one Hunter armoured fighting vehicle rear-ended another during Exercise Wallaby in Australia, thorough investigations are conducted and lessons learnt shared across the units.”
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“And then he added and this is the clincher, "We never got it right even a year from deployment." Just think. US, with its vast intelligence; just as US before the Pearl Harbor attack, with its vast intelligence, with a vast machinery, cannot get it right one year before a conflict. If you think what you know what is coming, you tell me, you may be Nostradamus. But I tell you, you can sense something is coming, you just do not know what it is. But when you see machines spinning faster and faster, one will spin out of orbit and something will break. How do you prepare Singapore and Singaporeans for that kind of scenario? You have to go back to the fundamentals, a united people, a strong SAF, strong security, a working economy, a strong fiscal Budget, a strong fiscal position. It is all fundamentals, because you really do not know what is coming. How does humanitarian aid help us? We selectively respond. I mean, we have to do our part. I think as Singapore grows in capability and wealth, I think we need to do more, but we are not out there to deal with every humanitarian situations, where we find that there are needs and if we can contribute effectively, we will do so. I can cost it for you in terms of dollars – it is not cheap every time we send a military plane, but that is probably the wrong way of assessing it. For example, when we send an A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport to deliver goods to Gaza, it would have been less costly to send by commercial means. But we wanted to send a signal and these are the considerations.”
“Mr Chairman, I encourage the Member to direct that question to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in terms of crafting our foreign policy, which will come after this. And I am sure there are many live questions. How do we deal with other countries? Remember the famous line, "There are no permanent friends, there are only permanent interests". And that is true for our countries, as the interest change, as the global system change. But what I have tried to explain is that we ourselves can be the slow frog that is being boiled. We get socialised to things that are different and we say, "Well, that is just the norm". And my overall point is not business as usual. It is not business as usual when the transatlantic relationship is threatened. It is not business as usual when people question whether NATO can survive. It is not business as usual when the US takes a different position and the US vote in the way that it did, compared to previously. And if you think it is business as usual, you are in serious trouble. And the question for us is, what is coming? And the answer to that, as I was trying to explain in historical terms, you do not know. There was a famous quote which I like to use and this is from Secretary Robert Gates, and I respect him immensely, previous Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) director, serious mien; when you speak to him, you can see the machination in his brain going, the database going. You know he weighs his answers because there is a lot going on. But he made this speech to West Point Cadets graduation. He said and I paraphrase him that the US' record for predicting where they would go into military operations has been perfect. Out of the last 10 military campaigns, they never got it right, 100% wrong.”
“I think we try to keep this virtuous state of affairs as long as we can to make sure that we can invest steadily. Year-to-year fluctuations would occur, whether it is economic, not so much in COVID-19, but remember the Global Financial Crisis? Everybody needs to take a haircut. If you have to take a haircut, you have to take a haircut. That is for national interest. MOF says, "This is what I have and you have to live within your means", and we will adjust. But the relationship we have together with MOF is very useful, it is not from year to year, it is over a period. And it allows MINDEF/SAF to make year to year adjustments, but at the same time keep to the overall schedule of building our SAF.”
“I think the primary question is does MINDEF seek defence dollars based on how the GDP goes. That is going to be very hard to plan, because ex ante you do not know how the economy will do. If you ask dollars this year and we go into a COVID-19 pandemic as it did, that is not practical. Or you ask X dollars based on last year's performance and you have conflict, so I am not sure that that system works. As I said, our starting basis is that defence is a long-term investment business. The starting point must be, not only for Singapore, but for all countries. Actually what we have, is quite amazing, that you can actually start from that basis: what does the military need to secure Singapore's defences? And for any country, that must be the starting basis. Then you say, well, can I afford it and how long do I take to achieve that basis? It cannot be pegged to the economic performance because it may not be related. I do not think any serious planner would go on that and I would not suggest anybody does that. You start from the basis, what do I need to defend Singapore adequately and then, you say, well, what do I need? But in practical terms, what is also constrained and is a virtuous state, because our economy has been growing and the Members of this House has supported the defence budget that we have asked for. Our practical constraints have been not so much in dollars but in manpower. That forced SAF to redesign their systems. For instance, if you had operated the previous artillery – remember you needed 12 people to stabilise the base plates and so on – and now, with shoot-and-scoot systems, you only need three people. Or previous naval vessels, which required many more men, but were redesigned so that you require less.”
“The Air Force and the Army initiatives to set up units to consolidate or path find for unmanned systems, I have explained. The Navy already, as I mentioned, deploys uncrewed platforms. They are already in operations in the Singapore Strait. The new MRCV will have it. Whether they need a dedicated unit, I leave it to them. That is where I will just leave it. For procurement, obviously, foreign policy will affect our business dealings. It is often said, trade and security are two faces of the same coin. But there are realities of our current procurement. In terms of the platforms we need, we are always guided by effectiveness and, of course, cost. But the platform has to be effective, has to meet our security needs. And we will buy the best in class. Then, we will see where it is manufactured, the price and also the maintenance. If there is an option to develop locally, obviously, we will explore the option. For example, as we did for our frigates. The first ship was produced together with the French Direction des Constructions Navales (DCN), but the subsequent five ships were built locally – as we are also building for a number of naval platforms. I think it is easier for naval platforms because we have got some experience and worked with partners. But even then, certain modules may also have multinational involvement, but yes, it may be built here. For the Army, as you can imagine, tanks may be a different class, but we could build the Titan, as we build other platforms. For planes, it is a bit more difficult. It is highly specialised equipment. The planes that we purchase from US manufacturers are deemed to be at the front edge. I think for some time yet, they will continue to be seen as that.”
“Regarding details – when and the size of it. Usually, the process is that we will evaluate sending a needs assessment team. We have already begun to do that. Senior Minister of State Zaqy accompanied the SAF Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT), there was a recent delivery of aid. Subsequently, they went from there to meet some counterparts in Egypt for fact finding. So, we are at the fact-finding stage. But in response to the Member's question, ultimately, what we deploy, we want it to be meaningful. There will have to be, of course, a medical element. When I mentioned MOH, it is in the context of MOH also has a volunteer programme. Minister Ong has expressed some interest. If they could be co-deployed, we will look for opportunities there. In addition, there was to be security, logistics. I do not want to give numbers now because we are not there yet. But usually, it is more than what we have deployed there. In terms of duration, we are prepared for a number of weeks or even months, if there is a need. We could also deploy on land or use a hospital ship. So, there are many details. But ultimately, we recognise that it is a humanitarian situation and we want to give medical assistance, and we think the SAF can contribute. How does it affect our operational readiness? The truth is, it will help, but I will not stance the mission for that. It is primarily a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief mission.”
“Mr Chairman, as the World around us becomes more unpredictable and changes, the more we need to keep the strongest commitment to strengthen our own defences and, if needed, we must be willing to do more. Singapore celebrates 60 years of Independence this year. With the support of Members of this House, we will continue to build a strong SAF, to protect Singapore and keep Singapore as a sovereign and independent nation, and to ensure our peace and prosperity for another generation. My Senior Ministers of State, my colleagues, will continue to answer the rest of your questions.”
“By extension, we should also realise that bioterrorism is a real threat. MINDEF/SAF established the Network of ASEAN CBR Defence Experts when we were ADMM and ADMM-Plus Chair in 2018 to deal with this threat. That network was useful. We conducted table-top exercises, training workshops, lab visits and created a harmonised set of guidelines to sample and analyse and to report. This was done last year. We think it is time now to build a physical centre and this will greatly facilitate cooperation. So, that is what we are going to do. MINDEF/SAF will therefore establish a regional CBR Centre in Singapore. It will strengthen and complement this network. We will work alongside RHCC, partner civilian agencies and military agencies across ASEAN and international organisations. I also announced in 2021, that MINDEF/SAF will build a Biosafety Level-4 lab. I think the reaction to that was quite muted and I think because it was after COVID-19. We all saw the need for it and this facility will complete construction in 2026 and, in line with WHO and MOH guidelines, it will be certified as a Maximum Containment Facility (MCF), the highest grade, to be able to handle bio-agents that are deemed highly contagious and lethal, such as the Ebola virus. That MCF will provide us with the capability to assess the nature of an outbreak, isolate, identify the bioagent, and develop early disease control measures. That is a significant capability. Just imagine if the equivalent of a Grade 4 bioagent was used and you are testing it in a Biosafety Lab 3. It risks everyone being contaminated and you will not be able to test it. So that BSL4 facility, I think, will strengthen our capabilities against bioterrorism.”
“As our defence capabilities grow, the SAF can do its part to help internationally. The SAF's Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC) works closely with both governmental and non-governmental organisations for humanitarian assistance. In March last year, RHCC coordinated a delivery of aid supplies to Gaza via Jordan and used our A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) aircraft, a C-130 transport aircraft and a commercial plane. In September again, it also coordinated the delivery of aid supplies to communities affected by Typhoon Yagi in Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. Earlier this month, the RHCC worked on similar efforts to deliver another tranche of relief supplies to Gaza through Jordan using our MRTT. This was to alleviate the humanitarian situation during the lead-up to Ramadan. The SAF is making concrete plans to provide further medical assistance to the people in Gaza. We have spoken to our counterparts in the Middle East. It is not safe now to deploy SAF medical facilities in Gaza. The risks are high and unlikely to subside for some time to come. We do not want to put SAF soldiers and civilian volunteers in harm's way there. But there are other options in the region, whether it is in Egypt, Jordan or the United Arab Emirates (UAE), as more civilians from Gaza have gone to receive treatment over the past months. We have already seen that and the SAF medical teams, together with the Ministry of Health (MOH) medical teams, may be able to deploy to such a place in the coming months. Apart from natural causes, chemical, biological, radiological and explosive (CBRE) threats can precipitate national and humanitarian crises. We all saw this during SARS and COVID-19.”
“Singapore invests heavily into our own defence, and the US appreciates this fact. The US also has a lead in dual-use technology that Singapore can benefit from. Under former US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, our two Ministries signed new agreements to strengthen cooperation in defence innovation, in data, analytics and AI. I look forward to further strengthening our defence relations under the Trump Administration. Members in this House may remember that the Protocol of Amendment for the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US was signed by President Trump and then-Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in 2019, during President Trump's first term. This MOU bears some detailing, because it is important. This MOU, I said that in 2019 it was a Protocol of Amendment, so the primary MOU, which was signed in 1990 by our founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew and then-US Vice President Dan Quayle. It is important to know about this because it remains a cornerstone document for our military ties and engagements, wherein we facilitate rotations of US ships and planes through our military bases in Singapore. The 2019 Protocol of Amendment extended the 1990 MOU for another 15 years. This 1990 MOU continues to underpin Singapore-US defence relations. During my call with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, it occurred very soon after his confirmation, we both reiterated and affirmed our commitment to this long-standing defence relationship which has benefited both Singapore and US. Secretary Hegseth was very familiar with the details of our past and present military engagements. We also discussed further projects briefly and I invited him to the Shangri-La Dialogue and look forward to deepening our defence relations together.”
“They continue to grow and we enjoy regular high-level exchanges with both countries. On China, I co-chaired the Singapore-China Defence Ministers' Dialogue, this was in May last year and I did it on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue with then-recently appointed China Minister of National Defense Admiral (ADM) Dong Jun. In September last year, I was invited to speak at their 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum and also had a dialogue session, this was alongside, it was not part of the Xiangshan Forum, but we organised a dialogue session with their senior People's Liberation Army (PLA) commanders in their National Defence University (NDU) – the pinnacle group. There, I met ADM Dong again. I also had a bilateral call with Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission GEN Zhang Youxia. For those of you who know the PLA structure, it is a privilege, and my delegation and I acknowledge and appreciate the privileged access to both Vice Chairman Zhang and the pinnacle commander class at their NDU. During these meetings, we affirmed the good military-to-military interactions that we have through various exercises and these high-level meetings and we plan to step-up further interactions. The US is a Major Security Cooperation Partner, our collaborations with their Department of Defense and military are extensive. We are not a treaty ally, but it is plain that our military engagements and mutual benefits have grown over the years. Singapore is thankful that our pilots have trained in the US for many years since the early 1970s. All our high-end fighting air platforms – the F-16s, F-15s, and soon F-35s – are manufactured by and purchased from US companies, alongside other high-end weapon platforms.”
“The UK’s Prime Minister has announced that the UK Carrier Strike Group will be deployed to this region this year to take part in the FPDA exercise. With Indonesia, the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) has been in force, some Members wanted updates, let me give them now. With Indonesia, the DCA has been in force since March last year and it provides a strong basis for us to promote closer interactions between our defence establishments, especially in new areas of defence cooperation. Our two leaders met in November 2024, Prime Minister Wong and President Prabowo, and both expressed support for more military engagement between the Tentara Nasional Indonesia (TNI) and the SAF. President Prabowo invited the SAF to train in Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan, to train with the TNI and we will be taking up their offer as well as the joint air training. Both Air Forces, for example, will conduct the inaugural bilateral air patrol under the Singapore-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol (PATKOR INDOPURA) later this year. For Malaysia, we have good relations. It is our closest neighbour. Malaysia is at the helm of ASEAN this year and we will support their chairmanship as they uphold ASEAN centrality and unity. 1.45 pm For example, at the recent ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) Retreat, Singapore and Thailand introduced the protection of critical underwater infrastructure. Some MPs talked about this, whether it is energy grids or communications, that if they are disrupted, it affects nations. Singapore and Thailand introduced a paper, Malaysia, as Chairman, strongly endorsed it and for the full concept paper to be formally tabled. We talk about US and China. Our defence relationships with them.”
“This financial expenditure is projected to be around $23.4 billion. It is a 12.4% increase from last year. It is sizeable but it reflects a catch-up of projects deferred or disrupted due to COVID-19, we are still catching up, including those impacted by supply chain disruptions in recent years. But going forward – the last three years we have been playing catch up – we expect smaller increases year-on-year. Even so, over the past decade, defence spending has stayed within the range of 3% of our GDP. Let me thank all Members of this House for their unwavering and steady support for the defence Budget and it has allowed us to build the SAF to what it is today. I expect the growth in defence spending to taper down from FY2026 and keep within this 3% of GDP range over the next decade, of course, barring any major conflicts or severe economic uncertainty. But given the rapid changes in our external environment, I think, we will have to continually monitor the situation closely and if the need arises, we must be prepared to invest more in further strengthening our capabilities. Miss Rachel Ong, Mr Shawn Huang and Mr Henry Kwek talked about us needing to be self-reliant and at the same time, expanding our network of friends and partners where interests align. As geopolitics becomes more unpredictable, it will affect our state-to-state relations with other countries, and that will also impact defence capabilities. MINDEF takes reference from our overall foreign policy. Some partnerships are historical, like the Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA). It is now in its 54th year. There is a strong ongoing commitment from all partners.”
“As a result of the expansion over the years, we were able to conduct the largest edition of Exercise Wallaby ever last year – over 6,200 personnel and 490 platforms. In Singapore, I can have 6,000 soldiers and 500 platforms but that is about it. They will not have much room to move if you gather them together. But in Shoalwater Bay, you can. And they were tested to the limits, with the realism, because they were free to manoeuvre armour and armoured infantry, and the soldiers can feel it. They can feel that this is realism. In the steady state, we are going to do more. After the development of the adjacent Greenvale Training Area, the SAF will have a combined training area 10 times the size of Singapore. This combined training area will allow us to deploy up to 14,000 personnel and 2,400 vehicles annually, so that the SAF can exercise its full range of capabilities, land, sea, air and digital. Other countries are invested in our defence. We thank the government and people of Australia for these opportunities. We look forward to commemorating the 10th anniversary of Singapore’s Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) with Australia this year and to explore further ambitious and strategic areas of cooperation. Apart from infrastructure, we are doing more to recognise the contributions of our servicemen. Senior Minister of State Heng Chee How and Senior Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad will talk about this. There will be a new SAFRA Clubhouse in Bayshore. These investments to build our defence capabilities must be treated as precious resources. Through them, we turn our people’s hard-earned monies into tangible benefits, tangible bulwarks to protect Singapore. Mr Don Wee asked for financial projections. Let me give a straight answer.”
“This was a recurrent theme by Mr Alex Yam, Mr Chong Kee Hiong and Ms Poh Li San, and I agree with them. The SAF indeed has put significant amounts of money to invest in training infrastructure. Some of the Members wanted an update, so let me do that now. The SAFTI City Phase 1 has been available for training since October last year. Battalions are trained in urban operations and homeland security, and the initial feedback has been very positive. Our SAF soldiers can feel the difference immediately. Let me quote from one – 3SG Robin Teoh is from 5SIR – and he said, “Training in SAFTI City as a motorised infantry unit has been a game changer. The urban environment feels real, like stepping into an actual city. Moving and driving through tight alleyways, clearing high-rise buildings and adapting to different scenarios pushes us to think fast and stay sharp.” It is gratifying because his reaction is exactly what we build SAFTI City for. We will build more of such facilities, and I think some Members wanted to know what more we can do, so that we can enhance realism for effective training. Pulau Tekong will be expanded to stretch 10 kilometres in distance. We know 10 kilometres is not a huge stretch, but for Pulau Tekong, it is. For Singapore, it is. And we will find some way of stretching it so that you can make longer circuits. So, it will act as the Army’s second manoeuvre training area for soldiers as well as combat vehicles, because that is important as the Army becomes increasingly platform-based. As Mr Chong Kee Hiong alluded to, it is overseas where we need to leverage large training spaces. And the Shoalwater Bay Training Area has been expanded with many new and better facilities.”
“So, therefore, we must maintain our technological superiority, which includes the potential use of AI. MINDEF and the SAF needs to partner this, and I agree with the MPs who have spoken about this, that we need to partner with civilian entities and use appropriate crowdsourcing. So, for example, MINDEF’s Future Systems and Technology Directorate and the DSO National Laboratories have launched the AI Grand Challenge, in partnership with AI Singapore. The AI Grand Challenge has awarded funding to five teams to carry out research. The theme was “Robust AI” or “AI for Materials Discovery”. So, the idea is that, over time, the SAF can harvest good ideas for its needs. And in fact, quite a number of emerging technologies are dual use, both civilian and military, with very quick adaptation cycles. So, for example, in the Russia-Ukraine war, an AI company was able to modify its commercial voice transcription to intercept Russia communications and automatically highlight key information to the Ukrainian armed forces. To capitalise on such opportunities, the SAF has set up technology adaptation teams. Basically, you put combatants and engineers together, and their task is to adapt new technologies to the problems on the ground in quick and real time. And we actually tested these teams during the recent Exercise Wallaby. They had a practical problem where they needed to extend the range of communications, which they did by using a UAV fitted with a 5G base station to extend communications. So, that is an example. All these new capabilities and structures will better prepare the SAF to defend Singapore, but it will come to nought if our soldiers are not committed or trained for their tasks.”
“If we can leverage on drones as platforms, on the flip side, the SAF will also need to build up its capabilities to defend against UASs. And in these small commercial UASs are easily procured on the open market, I think, Mr Vikram Nair alluded to it. They can be re-tooled as weapons to inflict harm and destruction, for example, terrorists could do that. They are commercially available; you re-tool them. So, to meet this threat, the SAF will build new counter-UAS capabilities – a suite of sensors, jammers and weapon solutions to detect and neutralise smaller UASs, to add to our existing Island Air Defence capabilities. A newly established SAF Counter-UAS Development and Operations group will be responsible to guard against this threat in collaboration with other Government agencies. I do not want to give the wrong impression that it is so easy and that there are comprehensive solutions to deal with all UASs. That would be a wrong impression and would not be telling you the honest truth. Small drones are, in fact, hard to detect. There is also, as some of the Members alluded to, Mr Vikram Nair alluded to an asymmetry of costs. So, let me give an example. You remember the situation that is going on now, it is called the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, this is what connects the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, where the Houthis fired drones. If the aggressor fires 100 drones, it will cost about $15 million. But to defend against them would cost nearly $250 million; clearly unsustainable. The challenge is currently a focus of intense efforts everywhere, everyone is trying to find a cost-effective solution to the problem of mass small drones used for attack. Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim spoke about how technology can disrupt militaries, and he is right.”
“And they are not producing it because they are under intense pressure; they know how useful it is. Drones have been used to target support, gather intelligence, strike operations, decoy, relay signals and many other functions. And, in fact, the SAF has already progressed in the use of unmanned platforms. They are already deployed for operations. So, for example, in the Singapore Straits, the Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs) conduct patrols now and these USVs – if you happen to be on a boat along the Singapore Straits, you can say hello to them – they are equipped with electro-optic devices, radars and a 12.7-millimetre weapon system. These USVs can issue audio-visual warnings. They use lights, sirens, long-range acoustics device, and where justified, they can fire shots with their remote gun system. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are now becoming part and parcel of the soldier’s arsenal in the Army, very much like how scouts use binoculars and can tap in and with far greater range and precision. And so, commanders can tap into a common picture from these various drones, inputs from the unmanned platforms to fight more effectively and smarter. But it is in the Air Force that the pace and scale of drones have grown exponentially. So much so, that the Air Force has found it necessary to reorganise and to establish a new UAS Warfare and Tactics Centre. This new centre will drive the development of UAS warfare and its integration with the other forces and working with industries and tech agencies. The Army will also establish the Drone Accelerator for Rapid Equipping (DARE) a similar office to scale up operations for UAVs and ground vehicles for its units across the Army.”
“Yes, you would enhance it with software aspects, but in modern military affairs, the comparative advantage is how you meld the two and bring to effect the capabilities of both. That is the job of the new commands and centres. The second new DIS command is the Defence Cyber Command (DCCOM), which will consolidate all cybersecurity operations and capabilities, and partner with whole-of-Government and industry to strengthen national cyber defence. The new command will have to deal with hostile digital threats against Singapore from state and non-state actors. Because as you can imagine, if anyone attacks our digital backbone, our essential services will be crippled. And it is obvious that as a small geographic entity, we are vulnerable. It will impact economic and social well-being and will have a direct impact even on our security forces – the SAF and the Home Team – because we have to operate in this country. We will be severely hampered. 1.30 pm We have redundancies but we have to protect our digital backbone. And that mission to deal with such external actors falls on the new command. Mr Henry Kwek and Mr Vikram Nair asked about unmanned platforms. I am glad they did because this is something that we are doing serious work and intense work on reorganisation in all the Services. Because militaries must not only be able to integrate that new technology and force structure and operations, but counter and defend against these threats. As some of you rightly alluded to, it is proven that drones will be part of modern warfare. It is only how much and whether you are prepared. A study by the Kyiv School of Economics showed that Ukraine is now capable of producing four million drones annually, a hundred-fold increase from before their war with Russia.”
“I take all your points, I accept them. There have been new developments that are going to impact the way militaries conduct their operations. I think that is wisdom. So, for the past decade, indeed, that is what we have been doing. When you ask yourself, how do you respond to these new changes? For the militaries, it boils down to two things: structure and platforms. If you do not have both, then you are not really serious about re-organising and meeting these demands. If you have not changed your structure, if you have not gotten new capabilities and platforms, then you have not been adequately responding. We need to reorganise the SAF, to equip it, to incorporate emerging technologies and capabilities. Mr Vikram Nair and Mr Neil Parekh referred to this in terms of the DIS. I am glad that it reaffirms the confidence that was formed about the SAF. The DIS was formed in 2022 and indeed it is one culmination of efforts in the reorganisation so that they could better meet future needs and threats in the digital sphere. I am happy to report today that almost three years after its inception, the DIS is now ready to stand up two new commands. Remember I said unless you have structure and a new platform, you really are not adapting. The fact that we can stand up two new commands reflects progress. First, the SAF C4 and Digitalisation Command (SAFC4DC). It will have two centres: the Digital Ops-Tech Centre and the SAF Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre. The mission for these new commands and centres is to bring to bear for the SAF the full effects of new digital hardware and software. Let me explain that. In the prosecution of missions now, or previously, we will use mainly conventional capabilities.”
“At last year's COS, I announced our decision to acquire eight more F-35As, in addition to the 12 F-35Bs we had previously announced. We have recently confirmed the purchase of these F-35As from the US and look forward to the establishment of our F-35 and F-16 fighter detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base. It is not just that we buy the planes from the US, not that they acquiesce to us training in the US. These moves reflect the strength of our defence relationship with the US and the continued commitment to a multi-decade partnership. We thank the US for their support. For the Army, we will have a new infantry fighting vehicle (IFV). So, I have finished the sea, the air, let us move on to the Army. The new infantry fighting vehicle, I think most of the MPs who were still serving SAF are from the Army here. You will have a new IFV. It will be called the Titan. The Titan will still be wheeled, but for the first time, it will have its firepower upgraded with a 30 millimetre cannon as a remote weapon system. It will also be equipped with counter-Unmanned Aerial System capabilities. The Army's High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) – I think many of you would have read about it during the Russia-Ukrainian War. These were quite useful and effective – they, too, will be upgraded with more capable rockets. With these added large-ticket items for air, land and sea, the SAF as a relatively small military would have been transformed into a state-of-the-art military with platforms comparable to advanced militaries elsewhere and fit for our security purposes. But as some MPs would have alluded to, there is a common dictum, a cautionary caveat, that militaries must be careful that they do not arm themselves to "fight the last war".”
“Two submarines have returned, are already plying our tropical waters and they are functioning well in our conditions. I think they are proven. But four submarines are not optimal for a fleet. Submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles, stringent checks as you can imagine, because they need to operate under intense pressure, literally. Sometimes, operational time is reduced relatively. This is why most navies that operate submarines have more than four – Australia, Indonesia, Vietnam, to name a few of our close neighbours. Having proven that the Invincible-class submarines can perform to expectations in tropical waters, the SAF plans to procure two more submarines to make up a total of six as a steady state for our submarine fleet. The Navy will also launch its first multi-role combat vessel (MRCV) later this year. They are going to replace our Victory-class corvettes, which have been around since 1989. So, calculate for yourself – nearly 35 years old. The MRCVs are larger and have greater range than the Victory-class corvettes – about three times further. The MRCV is actually not one ship but a mothership with unmanned platforms. Some of you have spoken about unmanned platforms. This modern design incorporates that feature. Together with its suite of advanced sensors and combat systems, the MRCVs will strengthen our Navy's ability to safeguard our maritime interests. That is the sea. Let us talk about the air. Our Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft are also due for replacement. Our Fokkers have served with distinction for three decades since 1993. The RSAF is now looking intently and evaluating appropriate replacements. Two possible ones: the Boeing P-8A and Airbus C295.”
“But now, as an independent and sovereign nation, we Singaporeans have agency and can decide and do all we can to secure our future together. And certainly, building our own defences to protect our own interests must take priority. We count on no one else to protect Singapore, but ourselves. Let me deal with the hows squarely. Because ultimately, it has to be a strong SAF. We are not a threat to anyone and wish all to be friends. But as the saying goes, strong fences – and I would add, defences – make good neighbours. Mr Desmond Choo and Mr Shawn Huang pointed out the progress of the SAF. It is now a modern four Service military able to operate effectively across all domains of air, land, sea and digital, as Mr Neil Parekh also alluded to. But building capacity and capability for the SAF is a continual exercise. You either upgrade or regress. In the interest of time, I will first name the big-ticket items, starting with conventional capabilities that some of you have asked for. You remember in 2017, we started building four Invincible-class submarines. That programme is on track, with all four custom-made submarines for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). German-made. It is the first time we have had custom-made. Previous submarines were bought. I do not know whether you refer to those submarines as second-hand or third-hand, but anyway, they were not custom-made for us. This is the first time that we custom-made them. They will be operational, all of them, by around 2028. These submarines were manufactured in the icy waters there. I remember when then-Prime Minister Lee launched two submarines. One was delayed because of COVID-19. They had to bring out blankets and warmers for those of us on land. This was the launching. Just imagine how cold the waters were.”
“" More dramatically, Politico asked, "Is this the end of NATO?" The trans-Atlantic partnership has remained strong for more than a century despite great stresses, not least two World Wars. Only time will tell if these headlines and fears are accurate or over-reactions. That is in Europe. But what about us in Asia? More pointedly, what is in store for Asia? That, to me, is the quintessential question for our time. That, to me, is the most important thing that we have to decide. Your residents on the ground will ask you, as MPs, what is in store? I know that this is our Budget and our COS. We also know that this is an election year. But the answer to that question is going to occupy us for at least a decade. It is going to decide the fate of Singapore and Singaporeans for this generation. All the headlines that you read – it is not business as usual. It is ground shaking, earth shattering. It is a political earthquake, with a tsunami coming. We do not know when the tsunami will occur. We know that it registers on the political Richter scale. All these examples is one point. You know something is coming, you do not know how to predict it accurately, when, in what shape and form. But whatever comes, whatever comes, we must face our future resolutely. Singapore has thrived since our Independence because we took the world as it is and not what we wished it to be. We responded to daunting challenges as one nation, with grit, perseverance, sacrifice and hard realism. We must now do the same as we enter into uncharted waters. Before 1965, we were not in charge of our own fate. So, we could have blamed other countries – the British or other large powers.”
“In retrospect, it is so logical that these countries would do what they did. You see the Japanese ambassador to the US writing his letter to Franklin D Roosevelt, and you understand why countries behaved as they did. But the Pearl Harbor attack, that day in infamy, caught the US and Allied powers, even with their vast intelligence network, by surprise. If you look at the military strategy of the Pearl Harbor attack – I come from MINDEF, so, I have some inkling of what military plans are – the Japanese Pearl Harbor attack, an audacious pincer attack. One on land, one for sea. Thousands of kilometres by sea. I want to control the Pacific. And yet, they were caught by surprise. We sit here and we watch the events. Many Members of Parliament (MPs) have expressed how every week, there are different headlines, something that you have never see. No one can predict the future precisely, but the feel of change is in the air. What further surprises lie in store? Seasoned columnists who have witnessed historically churning events liken our time to that before the First World War and ask if we are sleepwalking into our future. In the aftermath of World War I, four empires, some which had existed for hundreds of years, laid waste. It changed the map of the world – of borders, of alliances, of ethnic groups, of societies en masse. For Europe, especially after the recent NATO meetings and the Munich Security Conference (MSC) – I was there, so I could feel the mood directly – there is presently great consternation. The headlines reflected this. The Associated Press said, "NATO is in disarray." This was after the US announced that its security priorities lie elsewhere. The Wall Street Journal, "Planned US-Russia talks over Ukraine throw Europe into crisis.”
“It is decided in the corridors of power and then declared publicly as a fait accompli. Take the 1824 Anglo-Dutch Treaty, when Singapore and Malaysia came under British rule. If the powers that be had decided differently, we could very well have been under Dutch rule and a radically different future from today. Just as a lark, I typed into your ChatGPT and asked what would happen to Singapore if we were under Dutch rule? It gives you a very, very good answer. Well, it will tell you that a lot of things will change. Or fates of nations decided by others unannounced, without the knowledge of the affected states or the nations most affected, as in the Sykes-Picot agreement, secret agreement in 1916, between the French and the British, when they decided to divide up the remnants of the Ottoman Empire, and it was only because the Bolsheviks discovered it a year later, and then it was made public. 1.15 pm Or change can be inflicted through open aggression and brute force. I do not like this situation, I am going to deal with you. Sheer force. Whether you like it or not, whether you can withstand it or not. Never mind the suffering. As it did for this region on 7 December 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor under their strategy for a Greater East Asia Co-Prosperity Sphere. And barely two months later, the hitherto impregnable "Gibraltar of the East", as we were referred to, fell, and Japanese occupation ensued in Singapore. Were those events foreseeable? Perhaps, in hindsight. I have been to the Pearl Harbor museum twice. It is fascinating every time I go there. I can spend hours there. They lay it out in wonderfully chronological order. There are actually two halls, one before the attack, one after.”
“Mr Chairman, that we are living in turbulent times is plainly evident. Some of my colleagues who have filed their cuts said so in so many words. Mr Vikram Nair said that the collective security and the rules-based world order appeared to be fraying. Mr Desmond Choo said the world is now a far more dangerous and uncertain place. Mr Shawn Huang said the war in Ukraine highlights the vulnerability of smaller states to larger powers and how we need to be prepared. I agree with all these sentiments. So, how do we prepare Singapore and our people for a disruptive future, even a disrupted one? For leaders everywhere, that surely must be the overriding concern as the global order changes before our very eyes. From a liberal world order characterised by inclusion, rules for large and small states and a protection of the global commons, we have now moved from that liberal world order to a literal world order based on size and influence, based on power. It has happened before, not only for Singapore, but the entire ASEAN region and beyond, where your basic assumptions change precipitously and your futures are altered rapidly. How do we prepare Singaporeans for this kind of change? We want to learn from history, surely, about how the world might change when big power diplomacy dominates. Let me tell you before I quote the examples that are not a pretty picture, but nonetheless, we should learn them and learn the right lessons. And we ask, as we look at these examples, how are the fates of nations decided when big power politics and big power diplomacy dominate in this literal world order? History teaches us that the fates of nations, particularly the weak ones – and I use the word "nations" in the broadest sense – can change without their choice.”
“The Military Security Department (MSD) has in place a security screening process to detect military personnel who may pose a security risk. It is a standard organisational capability for militaries around the world, to mitigate the risk of their trained soldiers inflicting harm on their peers or civilians. These screening efforts take place during enlistment and throughout their course of service as national servicemen. MSD works closely with other Government security agencies in performing this role. Personnel picked up by these screening efforts are excluded from roles where they can acquire skills or gain access to information or equipment that pose a threat. These screening efforts require professional judgement and calibration. If the criteria are too tight, we may exclude from training an excess of soldiers who ultimately pose no threats; on the contrary, applying criteria that are too loose may result in high-risk individuals being missed during the screening process. MSD, in performing its role, therefore calibrates these criteria periodically depending on review of feedback and prevailing security conditions. These calibrations can result in year-to-year fluctuations. At the current levels of screening, the number of individuals picked up for observation and exclusion annually is small at about 0.1%, or about 50 individuals for an average number of close to 30,000 pre-enlistees screened each year, over the last 10 years.”
“Under the present system, the Singapore Armed Forces pays for the declared income of Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen) during their In-Camp Training and other NS duties. In September 2022, a base NS pay was set at $1,600 per month for all NSmen, regardless of employment status, that is, those who are not employed or are homemakers will receive some financial support for their period of duty. This system of compensation has served us well and should be maintained without extending it to include the income of the spouse. The family structures of NSmen vary and MINDEF recognises that other family members may have to shoulder more family responsibilities when NSmen are on duty. These efforts are recognised through NSmen tax relief, which wives and parents of NSmen are eligible for, as well as NS Home awards, which provides financial benefits to NSmen families for their housing, medical and education needs. Financial support aside, NSmen are typically notified of their call-ups up to six months in advance so that suitable arrangements can be planned early for work, household or caregiving responsibilities. If circumstances of urgent or compassionate nature require NSmen to miss a portion of their NS duties, NSmen can also apply for compassionate leave or time-off.”
“MINDEF will continue to work with partners to encourage Singaporeans to raise their digital literacy, develop and maintain good cybersecurity habits, protect sensitive data and guard against scams, fake news and disinformation so as to make the digital domain a safer and more secure space.”
“The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) regularly conducts surveys on Singaporeans’ awareness of and support for Total Defence. In the latest survey conducted in 2024, about 90% of respondents said they are willing to play their part in Total Defence. Through regular engagements with schools, businesses and communities, as well as the annual Exercise SG Ready, we seek to maintain a high level of awareness and support among Singaporeans on Total Defence and raise their readiness to deal with crisis scenarios. Digital Defence was introduced as the sixth pillar of Total Defence in 2019 to defend ourselves against a range of online and digital threats such as disinformation and scams. The Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) runs a National Cybersecurity Campaign and conducts talks and workshops for different population segments, focusing on evolving threats and the steps to take to protect themselves. In this year’s Exercise SG Ready, the Singapore Business Federation is organising a phishing exercise to help businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthen their resilience against cyberattacks. The Singapore Institute of Directors has also recently launched a Cyber Resilience Guide to enhance corporate leaders’ cyber readiness. To better protect Singapore’s Critical Information Infrastructure (CII) systems, the Digital and Intelligence Service and CSA co-organises the Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX) annually. The exercise brings together industry and Government partners to train for realistic scenarios and stress-test the cyber defence systems of our CIIs. Last year’s exercise involved over 200 cyber defenders from 28 organisations across many sectors, including power and telecommunications.”
“The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) conducts regular mobilisation exercises (MOBEX) of our National Service (NS) forces. In a silent mobilisation, NSmen are notified through their personal contact numbers. Open mobilisations include the broadcast of unit code-words through mass media. Average attendance rates for both are consistently high: 95% or more of mobilised NSmen would turn up within the stipulated timings. Mobilisation exercises sharpen the operational readiness of our NS forces, keep our systems and processes well-oiled and enhance SAF's preparedness to respond in a national security situation. Different scenarios may be used in different mobilisation exercises for greater realism and validation of different functions, such as force equipping, force preparation procedures and refresher training.”
“National Servicemen (NSmen) are called up for In-Camp Training (ICT) for periods necessary to meet essential operational and training needs. To minimise disruption to NSmen and their employers, NSmen are typically notified of their call-ups up to six months in advance so that suitable work coverage arrangements can be planned early. NSmen with critical work commitments during the stipulated ICT period can apply for deferment and make up for their ICT at a later time. During their ICT, NSmen who need to address unforeseen or urgent work exigencies are allowed to do so on their own devices in designated non-sensitive areas of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) camps. Wireless@SG is also being progressively installed in SAF camps, which provides NSmen better connectivity. NSmen's duty to perform ICT is backed by legislation. Under the Enlistment Act, employers are required to grant their NSmen employees leave of absence during their ICT period. Employers who contravene the legislative provisions are liable for fines or custodial sentences. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) has not had to take such legal actions against employers because employers in Singapore understand the critical need for NS and have been supportive of their NSmen employees. In the small number of cases whereby NSmen felt that they were not supported or discriminated by their employers, the causes were predominantly misunderstandings or miscommunications which were resolved after MINDEF's facilitation. MINDEF also has a range of efforts to further encourage employers to support their NSmen employees. These include regular engagements as well as recognition of exemplary employers via the NS Mark accreditation and Total Defence Award.”
“In 2020, the Ministry of Defence replied to a Parliamentary Question on this matter that the relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base (PLAB) would likely occur around 2030 or beyond, after Changi Air Base and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to house the existing assets at PLAB. Despite some project delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we expect the relocation of PLAB to take place within the previously projected timeline. With various projects still in development, a definitive date for relocation would be premature now.”
“When incidents or near-misses happen, as it did where one Hunter armoured fighting vehicle rear-ended another during Exercise Wallaby in Australia, thorough investigations are conducted and lessons learnt shared across the units. The SAF Inspector-General’s Office, headed by the Chief of Staff – Joint Staff, is responsible to oversee all these efforts and outcomes. The Inspector-General’s Office conducts safety assessments through regular physical audits of SAF Formations and units and reviews of notable safety incidents and near-misses. It is assisted by external experts and review panels, including the External Review Panel on SAF Safety, to benchmark and provide inputs to enhance SAF’s safety management culture, systems and practices.”
“Both safety and operational readiness are part of Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF’s) core missions in peacetime. It is possible, indeed mandatory, to achieve both without compromising the high standards of either goal. For safety, zero training fatalities remain a key deliverable for all unit commanders. It can be achieved only with a strong safety culture and a robust safety management system that emphasises both leadership accountability as well as personal responsibility of soldiers. Safety indicators constitute part of their unit’s performance measurement and reporting. Individual soldiers are taught to exercise responsibility for their own safety as well as those around them. Continued command emphasis, safety education, incident and near-miss reporting reinforce such behaviours. SAF trains realistically in challenging terrain and tempo of drills, such as Exercise Wallaby and many others. To achieve safety outcomes and zero fatalities in these exercises, detailed assessment of risks in each part of the exercise is required, together with discrete plans to avoid injuries. Commanders’ lead in these measures and the safe conduct of exercises is a key deliverable. Best practice safety designs and features are studied and built into warfighting platforms and other equipment. Safety standards and procedures are specified for a range of operational and training activities. Soldier training is conducted progressively to ensure that they master the basics before moving on to more demanding tasks and complex situations, and pre-activity safety briefs and drills are conducted as reminders.”
“On the night of 24 September 2024, a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) rear-ended another during Exercise Wallaby while the vehicles were moving back to base at Shoalwater Bay Training Area in Queensland, Australia. The 12 Servicemen involved were sent to the nearest medical facility and were assessed to have sustained mild injuries. None required hospitalisation and were well enough to rejoin their units for training the next day. A safety pause was called immediately following the incident. Preliminary onsite checks found that low visibility due to the dust clouds formed during movement of the Hunter AFVs was the likely contributory factor. It was also ascertained that the soldiers on board the vehicles had adhered to the safety protocols, including the use of seat belts and protective gear and, consequently, only sustained no or mild injuries. After the safety time-out, all drivers were reminded to maintain the requisite safety distances when driving, especially when visibility was poor. Troops were also reminded to adhere to safety protocols, including the use of safety equipment. The incident and reminders were further shared with participants of subsequent phases of the exercise and other units in Singapore through safety briefs. In accordance with the SAF’s safety incident protocol, a formal investigation has been convened in the Army. Upon completion of the investigation, further lessons learnt and recommendations made will be implemented as appropriate.”
“We refer the Member to the statement released by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) on 27 September 2024. As the Police investigation is ongoing and to respect the privacy of the late Serviceman’s family, it would not be appropriate for MINDEF and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to divulge further details at this juncture. MINDEF and the SAF extend our deepest condolences to the family. We are extending to them our assistance during this time of grief.”
“The recent simultaneous mass explosions of pagers and walkie-talkies in Lebanon show that communication and other common devices can be compromised, disrupted or weaponised. The incidents also underscore the importance of securing the supply chains of such equipment. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have in place various safeguards in our supply chains. Potential suppliers have to be security-cleared before being allowed to participate in MINDEF/SAF projects. To ensure that our equipment is delivered safely and securely without being tampered, the transportation providers and routes used have to be authorised by us. We also monitor the shipment closely. Upon receiving the equipment or system, we screen, inspect and test them before deployment. In some cases, this includes testing for cyber vulnerability. Given the number and range of technologies and equipment involved, we take a risk-differentiated approach. Beyond implementing our own safeguards, we also engage in information and intelligence sharing with relevant local Government agencies and trusted international partners regarding the latest emergence or discovery of vulnerabilities, particularly in the cyber domain. We will continue to review and improve our safeguards.”
“The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) conducts regular flying training overseas to overcome the constraints of Singapore's limited airspace. In planning and conducting such training, RSAF works closely with its counterpart and relevant authorities to ensure that all its flying are conducted in compliance with local laws and safety requirements. It also takes into account local flying procedures and practices in its flight plans and profiles. Outside of the training, RSAF works with its military counterpart and community leaders to engage with and contribute to the local community through various programmes and initiatives. It also briefs all its personnel on and reminds them to adhere to local laws and practices. The Ministry of Defence and RSAF are grateful to our foreign partners and their local communities for their support of our training. We remain fully committed to being law abiding and appreciative guests while training in their countries.”
“Since 2010, about 650 individuals on average (or around 2.7% of pre-enlistees) have been exempted from National Service (NS) each year due to severe mental health conditions. These individuals are exempted from NS to ensure their safety and those around them and, therefore, are not suitable as volunteers. The assessment of mental health conditions and exemptions, where medically warranted, are performed by the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) medical doctors, based on guidelines developed in consultation with senior psychiatrists from our public healthcare institutions who serve on the SAF's Psychiatry Specialist Advisory Board. Inputs from the pre-enlistees' treating physicians, which may include private sector doctors, are included for these assessments.”
“The National Service (NS) Call Centre hotline is one of the feedback channels in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). Over the last five years, the hotline received a total of 2,326 complaints. About 30% of these complaints were made by full-time National Servicemen and 10% were made by SAF Regulars. Most of the complaints are about administration matters and unit management issues. A small number are on alleged misconduct. The complaints are taken seriously. They will be investigated with appropriate actions taken where warranted. Specifically on disciplinary actions, two sergeants and one officer were disciplined arising from complaints received through the NS Call Centre hotline over the past five years.”
“RSAF has a dedicated team of aviation medicine doctors and psychologists to ensure that its service personnel are physically fit and psychologically ready for their training and missions. After the incident, medical and psychological support were proactively extended to the affected personnel and assessments made before they resumed their duties. The pilot has been certified physically fit and psychologically ready. He has resumed flying from 24 May 2024. The safety of populations around its aircraft flying routes and training and operations areas is a key priority to RSAF. RSAF upholds the highest maintenance standards to ensure the airworthiness of every aircraft. It takes steps to minimise flight routes over residential areas, where possible, and ensures that the routes are in accordance to norms prescribed by international bodies, including the International Civil Aviation Organisation and the Federal Aviation Authority of the United States. These norms are similar to those adopted in airports in densely-populated cities. As part of their training, RSAF pilots are also trained to handle various types of aircraft emergencies and to prioritise the safety of the public. This training ensures that our pilots are able to respond quickly and professionally to minimise any risk to the public in the event of an aircraft emergency.”
“This reply addresses the Parliamentary Questions for Written Answer raised by Mr Neil Parekh and Mr Zhulkarnain regarding the RSAF F-16 crash in Tengah Air Base on 8 May 2024. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), supported by Lockheed Martin and the Transport Safety Investigation Bureau, has concluded the investigation on the incident. The findings, which have also been reviewed by the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF's) Inspector-General Office and the External Review Panel on SAF Safety, were issued on 19 June 2024. Members can find the detailed news release on the Ministry of Defence's (MINDEF's) website. In summary, the root cause of the incident was due to the simultaneous malfunction of two out of four pitch rate gyroscopes, which provided similar erroneous inputs to the digital flight control computer. This is a rare occurrence and the first such failure reported to Lockheed Martin since the F-16s first flew in 1974. Unable to safely control the aircraft, the pilot acted in accordance to established emergency procedures. The investigation showed that the F-16 had been maintained in accordance with established protocols and its pre-flight built-in test did not detect any fault with the gyroscopes before take-off. To better detect early signs of gyroscope degradation and reduce the chance of a reoccurrence going forward, RSAF has put in place an additional preventive maintenance procedure for the gyroscopes, over and above what is stipulated by the aircraft manufacturer. We remain confident in the operational capability and reliability of the F-16 aircrafts, which is a well-established platform, with approximately 3,100 of them operating in 25 countries clocking over 19 million flight hours1.”
“Between 2014 and 2023, an average of 450 male second-generation Permanent Residents (PRs) each year renounced their PR status before serving full-time National Service (NS). In comparison, over the same period, an average of 1,900 male second-generation PRs enlisted for full-time NS each year. Those who renounce or lose their PR status without completing full-time NS have been cautioned that they face serious adverse consequences when they subsequently apply for any long-term immigration facilities to live, work or study in Singapore. PRs who have completed their full-time NS and apply for Singapore Citizenship are assessed favourably, if they meet other relevant criteria. Between 2014 and 2023, an average of about 140 new citizens who had completed full-time NS renounced their Singapore Citizenship each year. Amongst this group, 96% renounced their citizenship at the age of 40 or older, when most would no longer be liable for NS duties under the Enlistment Act.”
“Since 2016, when more comprehensive vocational deployment statistics were captured, about 8% of full-time national servicemen (NSFs) enlisted in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) were deployed to be Administrative Support Assistants (clerks), 4% of NSFs were deployed to be Base Supply Assistants and Service Supply Assistants (storemen) and 3% were deployed to other "Non-Combat" vocations. These proportions have remained stable over the past eight years. In line with national trends, the proportion of enlistees with mental or other health issues have increased in recent years. To enable NSFs of varying health conditions to be deployed to a range of roles, the SAF has been redesigning its medical classification and vocational deployment systems to shift away from the binary classification of a serviceman, either as Combat-Fit or Non-Combat-Fit. It has also redesigned roles and reviewed vocation requirements, often leveraging on technological advancements. These measures will enable more NSFs to be deployed to roles which they were previously not eligible for and helps the SAF optimise the contributions of every national serviceman.”
“The mission also gave SAF an invaluable opportunity to test their operational readiness and validate their tactics and procedures. They responded within six days of activation and successfully mounted airdrop operations almost 5,000 miles away from Singapore. Thankfully, they had conducted regular training for such operations, most recently during Exercise Wallaby held at Shoalwater Bay in Queensland, Australia, last year. SAF continues to monitor the situation in the Middle East closely and will assess how they can work with international partners and stakeholders to further support humanitarian assistance for Gaza.”
“In recognition and response to the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, Singapore has delivered multiple tranches of assistance to alleviate the sufferings of Palestinians, coordinated by the Singapore Armed Forces’ (SAF's) Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance Disaster Relief Coordination Centre (RHCC). The Singapore Government first donated $300,000 in October last year, through the Singapore Red Cross, to support relief efforts. In November, a Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) conveyed humanitarian supplies, comprising meal packs and critical supplies, to El-Arish for onward delivery to Gaza. In January this year, SAF deployed a two-man medical team aboard the French Armed Forces’ FS Dixmude docked at El-Arish Port in Egypt to provide medical aid and post-operative nursing care to civilian casualties from Gaza. As the Member stated in his question, RSAF also recently deployed an MRTT and a C-130 transport aircraft to deliver critical essential supplies to Jordan, with the C-130 staying on for two weeks to participate in airdrop operations over Gaza. During their deployment, the C-130 and mission crew from RSAF and the Singapore Army successfully delivered over 20 tonnes of food supplies, equivalent to 59,000 meals, into Gaza. These efforts were made possible with the support of the governments and militaries in the region. In particular, the Jordanian Armed Forces worked in close coordination with SAF to prepare and execute the humanitarian airdrop operations. These incidents remind us of the importance of building and maintaining our partnerships not only in our region but elsewhere in the world.”
“The National Education office in the Ministry of Defence, or Nexus, works across Government agencies to develop resources to help Singaporeans better understand Singapore's challenges and interests. These resources are used by national education partners and practitioners to deliver programmes and activities, such as educational talks and games and learning journeys. The resources are also publicly available online through the SG101 website (https://sg101.gov.sg). The topics covered in the resources include Singapore's nationhood journey; our common identity and shared values; our challenges; policies and national initiatives, such as Total Defence. They also include contemporaneous issues in Singapore and around the world. Recent examples of contemporaneous issues covered include the Russia-Ukraine conflict, food and energy security and the Israel-Hamas conflict. Specific to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the content covered our national position on the conflict as well as key reflections for us with regard to our preparedness for crises and disruptions and the importance of maintaining our social cohesion and racial and religious harmony amid external events that can divide societies.”
“Yes, Sir. Mr Speaker, I beg to report that the Committee of Supply has made progress on the Estimates of Expenditure for this year, and ask leave to sit again tomorrow.”