Written Reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on the Use of Technology in the SAF

Mr Christopher de Souza: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) how will the Ministry increase its use of new technology to augment and modernise the SAF's existing fighting force in the next 15 years in the backdrop of emerging threats like cyber attacks; and (b) whether he can elaborate on the rollout of the doubling of SAF's mobility and motorised functions.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: MINDEF/SAF continually leverages technology to keep the SAF sharp and to modernise its capabilities. Ensuring that the SAF remains a credible force against all prospective threats to Singapore for the future goes beyond type-for-type platform replacements. We are developing new innovative fighting concepts to fully exploit the potential of emerging technologies.

New technologies such as unmanned systems and robotics can multiply the combat effectiveness of our soldiers, allowing the SAF to overcome our constraints of a limited population. Our Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems, which can stay airborne for more than 24 hours, can already provide persistent, near real-time situational awareness to our forces. This allows the SAF to see further, in greater resolution, and fight more effectively. Out at sea, we have been conducting trials of Unmanned Surface Vessels (USVs), and successfully tested their ability to patrol our congested waterways. In the future, our ships paired with USVs can efficiently and effectively protect a far larger area to secure our sea lines of communications. There is great potential for such technologies on land as well. Unmanned Ground Vehicles (UGVs) may soon be used to conduct security patrols. With the UGVs, we could reduce the number of guards on patrol, yet protect larger areas. Moving forward, such UGVs could assist our soldiers in ensuring that key installations and infrastructure remain safe from the threat of attack.

Threats are also evolving in non-traditional domains, like cyber, and the SAF has to remain vigilant to guard against threats to our military networks. New units for cyber defence are being raised and our Cyber Defence Operations Hub (CDOH) is also being enhanced. Better capabilities using infocomm technology, artificial intelligence and big data analytics are in the pipe-line to enhance existing systems. Taken together, these capabilities will ensure that our networks are resilient with robust defence systems.

Even as we develop emerging technologies, we will continue to build upon the strong foundations of the 3rd Generation SAF's transformation. The Army will be more mobile and capable, with the number of units operating on wheeled or tracked platforms almost doubling in the next 10-15 years. These units can influence areas up to 3 times larger, thereby multiplying the potency of our Army. This will include more Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicles (ICVs) to deal with increasingly complex urban environments. Our first motorised infantry brigade, equipped with the Terrex ICVs, will achieve initial operating capability next year. The Army recently commissioned the new Peacekeeper Protected Response Vehicles. These vehicles will be networked with other SAF platforms so that they can collectively see more, see further and allow our soldiers to act more decisively. This significantly enhances the mobility, survivability, and firepower of our soldiers.