|
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is conducting Exercise Lightning Warrior, in Lohatla, South Africa from 10 to 27 May 08. Exercise Lightning Warrior validates the SAF's air-land integration as well as the Division Strike Centre's (DSC) ability to coordinate a network of sensor and shooter assets that allows a Division to see, strike and influence the battlefield in depth.
The highlight of the exercise was an integrated live firing orchestrated by the DSC, involving a network of strike assets such as the AH-64D Longbow Apache Attack Helicopters and the PRIMUS Self-Propelled Howitzers as well as an array of battlefield sensors such as the Searcher Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV), ARTHUR Weapon Locating Radars, and STrike ObserveRs Mission (STORM) teams. Such an integrated strike capability is at the core of the 3rd Generation SAF.
When asked what he thought about the exercise after witnessing the live firing on 17 May, Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean remarked that this exercise "confirms the SAF's capability to have comprehensive awareness and precision strike on multiple targets. This includes targets which are static as well as fleeting targets, which means targets that only appear for a short while. This is done by integrating a network of sensors and shooters." Minister Teo added that "the SAF division now has the capability to see first and to strike first well into the division's depths and that means that the division is able to influence the battle well into the depth."
|
