Speech by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Defence Technology Prize Award Ceremony

Chief Defence Scientist,
CE DSTA, CEO DSO,
Senior Staff,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is important that we recognise and honour the outstanding research scientists and engineers. Because I will tell you, that within our system, our defence ecosystem, which includes MINDEF, DSO, DSTA, we have the largest collection of research scientists and engineers. Many years ago when I was in MOE, I used to tell the engineers who graduate - and of course I was also Ministry of Defence's Second Minister - that if you want to do real engineering, join MINDEF or DSTA and DSO. Because that was the truth. I couldn't tell them why I meant that, but I would simplify and tell them that they are really the ones who can think how we can locate better, shoot straighter, shoot longer - in simplified terms, so that they could understand.

Defence Technology a Key Pillar of Singapore's Defence Strategy

And indeed, it is these capabilities and commitment of our defence technology community that have underpinned the transformation of the SAF. And if you look at our weapon systems, our sensor capabilities, we employ advanced technologies, many of which are state-of-the-art, because we have over the years invested in building up and sustaining our defence scientists and engineers. Many of you know that Dr Goh Keng Swee started the progenitor of the DSO National Laboratories called the Electronics Test Centre to drive defence research and development. The DTP awards have been given out for more than twenty years now, beginning in 1989, so that we can recognise exceptional scientists and engineers who provide this technological superiority for the SAF.

25 Years of Innovation in Defence Science and Technology

This year marks the 25th DTP. Since its inception, 32 individuals and 81 project teams have been awarded the DTP for their outstanding work whether it's in the Command and Control systems, chemical defence and unmanned platforms, to name a few. And if you look at these projects, I would say that many of them anticipated and advanced our acquisition of technology ahead of time. So for example, in the 90s, the awards were given for the Victory-class Missile Corvette project and the Cyberspace Security project. The Cyberspace Security Project was awarded in 1997, 16 years from now. Of course we have a recent event on cyber security and it tells you how, again, that we have been very forward-looking. And these platforms and systems have served the SAF well for many years. We were quite thankful that none of the SAF's or MINDEF's website was defaced. But this is the reality that we face each day.

More recently in 2010, the team responsible for the Comprehensive Maritime Awareness System was awarded the DTP. This system allows the RSN to put together information from our regional and global maritime partners from over twenty countries to produce a common picture that provides early warning of sea-borne threats. So it's very impressive. In the recent Exercise Highcrest, I think they were showing a little bit how they were tracking 70,000-odd ships all over the world, and how they were able to track abnormal behaviour (of the ships).You know if you're loitering around too long and little ships are coming to you, from your behaviour, they can try and guess what you are doing. But this is the sort of capability and some old-timers who dreamt of this came back and said, "I could never have imagined that we could have this capability today". They said they thought about it, but to see this capability in this lifetime, it was very emotional for them. They got a bit emotional but it's because they have seen great advancements in these capabilities.

Other important DTP projects also include the Pegasus Light Weight Howitzer, the Terrex armoured infantry carrier, and the Trailblazer Counter-mine vehicle. And I would remind us that it's not only the SAF that has felt the impact of this positive output. We have had positive spill-over effects for our defence companies. For example, the Bronco all-terrain tracked carrier and the Landing Ship Tank, both of which have won the DTP previously, are now exported to other armed forces. You would have read that a variant of the Bronco, which the British called the Warthog, was bought and deployed by the British in Afghanistan and they showed specific instances where the lives of the soldiers were saved. Because they had urgent need for this type of vehicle, and they looked at our Broncos and they adapted it and it was exported into Afghanistan. It was a harsh and hostile operating environment, and I read somewhere that United Kingdom is extending the service years (of the Warthog) outside Afghanistan. It shows how capable our platforms are, because this is a very good platform to withstand the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) attacks.

The DTP projects go beyond building up military capabilities, and many have opened up strategic opportunities for the SAF and indeed Singapore. The Underground Ammunition Facility, awarded the DTP in 2007, released about 300 hectares of land from the SAF. Now if you want to know how large 300 hectares of land is, it is equivalent to half of a Pasir Ris Town. And it was because it was successful, that it led to the Jurong Rock Caverns, South-East Asia's first underground oil storage facility. And you would have read recently that because of these positive developments, these successes, our national land planners are considering larger-scale underground projects.

When we look back over the 25 years or look at our successes, I think there is a common thread to all DTP winners. It is the ingenuity and strong commitment of our people. I would characterise it as "dare to think, dare to do". It is the spirit that drives our defence scientists and engineers to be able to produce many ground-breaking advances. Many of those who were award winners are now responsible for ensuring that the defence technology community stays strong and just as innovative.

I will name a few. Chief Defence Scientist Quek Tong Boon, he led the guided weapons team to win the inaugural DTP team award in 1989. Tan Peng Yam was a member of the team that won the DTP in the following year for delivering the Victory-class Missile Corvettes He is now CE DSTA. Quek Gim Pew, now CEO of DSO. He won in 1992 as an individual winner for developing image processing algorithms. Tan Yang How, a four-time award winner of the DTP2 was one of the pioneer system architects of DSTA and today, the President of the DSTA Academy.

There is a reason, I think, why many of you stay within this community. Because success breeds success. You see things actually happen. One problem with our security environment is that we can't go out and tell people what we have, because we need the capability and edge. But we cannot take this as something that was inherited or bequeathed that we somehow got it - we have worked very hard. And for this reason, technology is getting more complex, concept of operations is getting more complex, mission imperatives are getting more vague, sometimes, so we - MINDEF, DSTA and DSO - recognise that in this environment, our strategists and military and technology chaps must come together. So that's why we pooled our military and technology experts together to form the Future Systems & Technology Directorate - this was done in July this year - so that you can understand the military thinking, the military planners can understand the defence and technology capabilities.

Defence Technology Prize Winners for 2013

This year, the DTP recipients are a diverse mix of winners. In the R&D category, the individual award goes to Ms Cheong Mei Teng from DSO. Her work has improved the effectiveness of our weapons, as well as our appreciation of their vulnerabilities. The Lantana Team from DSO has won the team prize for improving the SAF's communication systems.

There are four winning teams in the Engineering category. The Unmanned System Team from DSO provides us with the much needed capabilities that cannot be obtained commercially.

Now, this next project (is one which) you can see and touch - the Multi-Mission Range Complex. If you haven't seen it, you should. I think it's a real achievement. It houses seven indoor ranges in one and uses state-of-the-art video targetry systems. Some of you may have seen. What it means is that you have this screen and you line up people in front of you. But of course, live ammunition is used, and the video comes up, and it's a hostage situation. The terrorist has grabbed the hostage and you shoot. Now if you shoot the hostage, the video shows the hostage dying. And if you shoot the terrorist, obviously the hostage is safe. The reason why it was possible is because the screens are not ordinary screen materials. They are able to absorb the bullets and don't splinter the whole screen. And it's very realistic. They asked me to do it. Thankfully I think I shot the terrorist. It's a very interactive environment that's amplified to many scenarios. And the MMRC project has won many accolades, which includes a Certificate of Recognition in the Most Innovative Project/Policy category in the PS21 ExCEL Awards yesterday. During this year's MINDEF PRIDE Day, the project also won the SAVE and Innovation awards.

Last but not least, the two other Engineering prizes go to the Archer-class Submarine Team from DSTA and the RSN for the successful modernisation of the Västergötland-class submarines, and to the ODIN3 Team from DSTA and the Army for developing an advanced analytical tool for systems engineering. And indeed, the work of the ODIN team has enhanced the Army's network resilience in the SAF.

As I said, our problem is that we can't blow our horn too much. So all we can accord to you is this afternoon's ceremony. But I think that's enough. The quiet, assured recognition, individually and collectively within ourselves, within our community, of work well done. We walk with our heads high, knowing that we made a difference to Singapore and it's because of that capability and the deterrence that we have a safe and secure Singapore. I think that is enough.

My warmest congratulations to all the winners. All these projects are transforming and have transformed the SAF into a modern, operationally-ready and integrated fighting force. People outside Singapore know of our capabilities, militaries know it. I want to thank you all for your hard work, dedication, and contributions. All of you are part of the illustrious alumni. Their success, as well as of the general community, spur us on. We know that this is very a serious work, a very important piece of work, and that new challenges arise all the time and we need to continue to push the frontiers of science and engineering and seek breakthroughs in defence technology that helps Singapore to maintain our security.

Thank you very much.