Speech by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean, at the Armour 40th Anniversary Parade

Chief Armour Officer, Members of the Armour Family, Good afternoon.

Let me extend my warmest congratulations to the Armour Formation on its 40th Anniversary and this historic occasion of the inauguration of its first Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank Battalion. Our founding fathers understood that Singapore as a small nation with limited manpower resources would need to depend on the mobility and firepower of an armoured force. In the words of Dr Goh Keng Swee, our first Defence Minister, the "possession of an armoured brigade trained and equipped to high standards" was regarded as the "highest priority item" in the development of our Army(1).Our pioneers of Armour rose to the challenge of building such an armoured force. In 1969, our nation's first armoured battalion was raised within the short time of just two years(2), laying a solid foundation for the high standards and mission focus that have come to be the hallmark of Armour.

When our first batch of armoured vehicles, the AMX-13 tanks, made their debut at our nation's 4th National Day Parade in 1969, they were greeted with pride and awe by Singaporeans. The sight of our first tanks raised the spirits of our citizens. The AMX-13 tanks signified the fortitude, indomitable will and fighting spirit of our fledgling nation in taking charge of our own security and survival. From a rudimentary force based on AMX-13 tanks, V200 and M113 armoured personnel carriers, the formation quickly expanded to four battalions. Three of these battalions came under the first armoured brigade, HQ 4 SAB, which was established in July 1970(3). In the 1980s, the AMX-13 was upgraded to the SM1 and the M113 to the ULTRA fighting vehicle. Since then, Armour has continued to develop, honing its cutting edge as a fighting force. It continues to inspire confidence amongst Singaporeans, while commanding respect from the SAF's foreign counterparts. Today, after 40 years, Armour deploys a comprehensive complement of combat, combat support and combat service support vehicles based on locally designed and produced fighting platforms - such as the Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle, the Bronco All Terrain Tracked Carrier and the Primus Self-Propelled Howitzer. The recent addition of the Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tanks (MBTs), with their superior firepower, protection and mobility, provides a significant boost to Armour. But the ongoing transformation of Armour into a key component of the 3rd Generation SAF goes beyond the fielding of new armoured vehicles. The past five years have seen steady progress in harnessing the power of communications technology to create network-enabled Armoured Battle Groups. Success in the modern battlefield is increasingly being determined by how well various combat assets which used to fight as separate entities can now be integrated into a fighting system that leverages on a network of sensors, manoeuvre units and fire-delivery systems. The Battlefield Management System (BMS) fitted on our armoured vehicles tracks enemy and friendly forces and facilitates the exchange of battlefield information among air and land forces. Armour does not fight alone. It fights today as part of a system - adding the weight of its protected firepower and mobility to the overall combat power of the SAF, whilst drawing on the whole range of capabilities from the rest of the SAF to add to Armour's combat power.

The introduction of a new weapon system like the Leopard 2A4 Main Battle Tank into this integrated SAF is a major undertaking that poses complex and intricate challenges for Armour. Meeting these challenges demands comprehensive planning, and a focused and steady build-up of skills and capabilities.

To this end, Armour and 48th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (48 SAR) have done very well. 14 months since its establishment in March 2008, 48 SAR, made up mainly of Full-time National Servicemen, has completed tactical and live-firing training for two companies in Australia and Germany. In my visit to Ex Wallaby last year, I had the opportunity to see for myself the proficiency of the crews and the Leopards' lethality and firepower in an integrated systems live-firing and manoeuvre exercise with major air and land platforms, such as the F-16 fighter aircraft, Apache attack helicopters and artillery. Later this year, 48 SAR will be assessed for Full Operational Capability. Meeting this demanding time-line for Full Operational Capability, in less than two years from the time the first Leopard tanks were delivered to Armour(4), will be a commendable achievement. It will demonstrate that the same drive and spirit that imbued Armour's pioneering generation, when it raised our first armoured battalion in two years, is still very much alive in Armour today. The transformation of Armour into the SAF's 3rd Generation armoured force will be determined by its people, their courage and imagination. Armour must continue to drive its transformation with audacity, by challenging existing mindsets, exploring new fighting concepts and harnessing the power of technology fully to deliver the full potential of 3rd Generation Armour.

You in the Armour formation have a heavy responsibility to make sure that Armour continues to be a strong and powerful deterrent force, fortified by both superior equipment and well-trained soldiers. A force which will provide our nation another 40 years of peace, but which if ever called upon, will spearhead the SAF in securing a "Swift and Decisive" victory and keep Singapore safe and secure. 1. Address by Dr Goh Keng Swee, Minister for Defence, on the introduction of the Work Plan 1972/73 for the SAF on 21 Mar 72.2. When the SAF was conceived in 1965, the need for Armour was recognised, and during the early years of 1967 to 1969, various armoured vehicles were brought in for trial. The first armoured battalion, 40th Singapore Armoured Battalion, was established some time in 1969. 41st Singapore Armoured Battalion was formed in October 1969.3. HQ 4 Singapore Armoured Brigade (SAB) was formed in July 1970 to provide overall command. 40th and 41st Singapore Armoured Battalion were renamed to 40th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (40 SAR) and 41st Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (41 SAR) respectively. The 42 SAR was formed in 1971 and received its first 2 companies from its sister unit 41 SAR. In July 1976 the fourth battalion, 46 SAR, was formed under HQ 3 Division.4. Six tanks were delivered to Armour in June 2008. (One was delivered in September 2007 for display only, at the the Army Open House.)