Opening Address by the Minister For Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the Defence Technology Community Pioneers' Dinner at Island Ballroom, The Shangri-La Hotel

President Tony Tan,
Permanent Secretaries, Former Permanent Secretaries, Chief of Services, Leaders of MINDEF,
Distinguished guests, colleagues, and friends

First, a very good evening to all of you on this inaugural dinner for the Defence Technology Community (DTC). I am delighted that luminaries in this field are with us. Particularly President Tony Tan for taking time to join us, and many other leaders previously with Ministry of Defence (MINDEF), Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), DSO National Laboratories and its predecessors who have spent their entire lives building up the expertise we have today.

The first surprise that we think as we come together for dinner tonight is that this is an inaugural event. We have never done this. I don't know why, but it is true. But just let me share how this dinner came about.

This year, of course, is the jubilee year, our SG50. And we wanted to make sure that the pioneers were adequately acknowledged, recognised for their efforts and contributions. So we were thinking how to commemorate SG50 for the defence community. As we were discussing the calendar of events, obviously we have the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) Day which the Prime Minister agreed to attend, and then the National Day Parade (NDP) which are all key platforms. But as we looked at the calendar, there was an annoying feeling that something was missing, was not quite right. And the missing piece was related to how vital technology has been to enable Singapore to protect itself. So we ask the question why is it that we do not have a special event to honour the DTC. I suppose one answer was, well they were supposed to be secrets.

But I am glad that PS(DD) led a group to find an appropriate way to record and honour the contributions of this specific group. I am afraid that some secrets can never be shared, but you know what you have done and the amount of contributions you have provided for our security. But tonight's dinner completes the three essential elements through which we defend Singapore – through our people, our commitment and the use of technology.

Our journey to build up science and engineering capabilities for our defence needs has not been easy. It was Dr Goh Keng Swee, who even when the SAF was in its infancy believed that "we have to supplement the SAF's manpower with new technology, as manpower constraints will always be there. Our dependency should be more on technology than manpower. And we must develop indigenously that technological edge." Dr Goh Keng Swee articulated this very early on. This recognition that we had to use technology to mitigate our vulnerabilities and address shortcomings, because we are a small island with no geographical depth and limited manpower, was crucial. It incorporated that DNA in our systems and governance to constantly look to technology to multiply our efforts and expand our virtual space. This remains the mission of our DTC.

The early results of this culture and doctrine were slow but steady. Because you should remember that in the 1960s and the 1970s, we were a poor country with many other needs that required financing over and above defence needs. But I am thankful that our pioneer leaders were committed to keep defence spending up. The first fruits showed in 1970s when we built our own Missile Gunboats, developed electronic warfare capability under Project Magpie, and operationalized an integrated air defence system comprising the purchased Bloodhound surface-to-air missiles, 35mm guns and the air defence radar unit.

When I mentioned these first fruits compared to what we have today, those first capabilities seem rudimentary. But back then, it set the path to what we have today.  If anybody in the 1960s to 1970s said that in two or three decades, the notion of the SAF being a modern joint force with advanced Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities, modern tanks and armoured infantry, special operations capabilities, advanced aerial defence, surface and sub-surface maritime capabilities as well as multi-role fighters; that one day SAF would be that creature, many would have responded that is not a vision, it is a dream. Yet today, it is a reality and the SAF is acknowledged by defence experts as a modern and capable defence force.  

All of you here knew that none of this happened by chance, and would not have been possible without the DTC who marched alongside the SAF. The community ensured that the SAF's advanced capabilities were robust across their entire life cycle, from point of purchase, to systems integration, actual operations, and long term serviceability.  The fact that MINDEF and the SAF today have the largest number of engineers and scientists, more than 5000, have proven to be a vital asset. In fact, we have more scientists and engineers than the rest of the government put together. It allowed us to be smart buyers of the best platforms that suited our needs and price. It made sure that we could put together disparate platforms so that the whole would be greater than the sum of its parts. It enabled different platforms to talk to one another and commanders to see and share the entire picture. This well-functioning, integrated"system of systems" gives the SAF the superior edge over our adversaries.

Over the past decade, there have been instances when other agencies lamented their loss of such professional expertise. During those moments, MINDEF and the SAF, can count ourselves fortunate that our leaders had recognised the critical need to develop our indigenous technology and engineering capabilities for our defence needs, and have thus retained this essential community. Many of you here recognise the often used phrase – the secret edge weapon. The weapon that gives us an edge in protecting us. Let me say that today that the DTC is our secret edge weapon. Over the years, you have laboured, often out of the limelight. In fact, if you waited 50 years for dinner, I supposed the next dinner will SG100. You persevered when others did not think it possible or gave up.

So tonight we honour all of you in the DTC. At the apex of the Defence Technology Medals (DTM) is the Pinnacle Award, and I am very happy to announce that President Tan is the recipient. For more than 20 years in government, President Tan has been at the forefront, leading and transforming Singapore science and engineering capabilities in the academia and institutions. He championed the steady investment of resources to develop an indigenous defence technology capability to support the SAF. Under his guidance, MINDEF built up a pool of engineering and scientific talent that formed the nucleus of its engineering and research and development (R&D) efforts, whilst the formation of Temasek Laboratories brought us upstream to find critical areas related to our defence and security.

I was fortunate enough to enter government, while President Tan was in Cabinet. I saw first-hand his efforts in the Ministry of Education, and every now and then. I worked under him and worked with him, and saw his personal efforts in pushing academia, science and engineering create the various link ups. Because essentially defence science and technology system can only survive in an ecosystem and you have to nurture the ecosystem. More will be said during the individual awards, so I shall be brief. We have two other awards tonight. The Distinguished Leadership awards will be presented to Mr Lim Siong Guan, Mr Peter Ho, Mr Teo Ming Kian, and Mr Philip Yeo. These leaders shaped the development of Singapore's defence science and engineering. Remember, they shaped it when we were poor. The Outstanding Service award honours defence scientists and engineers for their exceptional service and contributions in delivering defence capabilities to the nation. These awards will be presented tonight to Professor Lui Pao Chuen, BG(NS) Wesley D'Aranjo, and Professor Su Guaning. I am sure that all of them would receive their awards on behalf of the entire community.

Even as we celebrate the achievements of our DTC and pioneers, we look forward and once again call on this community to play its critical role in helping Singapore surmount challenges on the horizon.

The greatest challenge for the SAF for the next few decades will be demographic. From now until 2030, the number of full-time national servicemen will shrink by about 30 percent. If you told any CEO that his manpower force will shrink by a third in 50 years time, he knows that it is a structural change and one that will further increase our dependence on technology. Thankfully, the SAF is fully prepared for this and has been deploying more platforms that require fewer men and women and more unmanned systems in the air, land, and maritime domains. The SAF of the future will be a hybrid force of man and machines, working in unison. You can expect the use of more fully autonomous platforms able to operate in challenging and hostile environments. Cyber threats and dis-information warfare also call for expertise from the DTC to engage in the internet.

Mr Lee Kuan Yew had once said that "Two million we may be but if I know Singapore as I believe I do, I think this place will measure up against 20 million and stand up on its own against 20 million." I challenge the 5,000-strong community in our DTC to help Singapore withstand and overcome all challenges. We are a small nation, but with our unity and capabilities we are not insignificant and are able to defend our home and interests. On this Golden Jubilee, I am confident that we will continue to develop the scientific know how and expertise to safeguard Singapore's independence and sovereignty for future generations. This is our promise to our children and theirs.

Thank you.

More Resources

• Honouring our Defence Technology Pioneers, Inspiring our Future