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Fact Sheet: Enhancing the SAF's Operational-Readiness and Servicemen's NS Experience through Digitalisation and Innovation
30 June 2022
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Background
The Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) next-generation transformation continues apace amidst the uncertain and complex security environment of today. A strong innovation culture and investments in digitalisation will enable the SAF to maintain its capability edge, enhance operational readiness and improve the overall NS experience for servicemen.
To this end, the SAF will appoint a Chief Digitalisation Officer (CDO) who will report to the Chief of Defence Force. The CDO will lead and drive the SAF's digital transformation which includes the formulation of the SAF's digital strategy, establishing priorities for the SAF's digital resourcing to support digital transformation and digital capacity building across the SAF, and determining the metrics for milestones in the digitalisation of the SAF.
Enhanced Operational-Readiness and Capabilities
Sense-Making for Operations
The SAF has continued to leverage technologies to sense-make available information for quicker and more robust decision making for operations. Various systems have been introduced to enhance the SAF's operational efficiency. They include, the Army Tactical Engagement and Information System (ARTEMIS) – Army's next generation Tactical Command and control system, the Navy's Combat Management System on board RSN warships and the Island Air Defence system's smart Combat Management System and Decision Support Systems. In addition, the SAF leverages data analytics and artificial intelligence to enable early threat detection and enable commanders to make more informed and prompt decisions. The systems range from the SAF's Command and Control information System for command post, which was exercised during Exercise Forging Sabre 2021, to the Singapore Maritime Crisis Centre's Next Generation Sense- Making System to support whole-of-government efforts against maritime security threats.
Improving the Training Experience
Analysing Trainee Performance
The Navy will leverage data analytics to provide more targeted feedback for learners. From 2025, trainers will be able to provide learners with an analysis of their performance at simulation centres so that they can learn better and more effectively in areas such as warfare, navigation, bridge operations or mission planning.
Streamlined Planning
The Army Training Management System (ATMS) will be rolled out progressively across the whole Army from 2022. As a one-stop portal, the ATMS delivers end-to-end training management services such as work planning, resource allocation and training record management. The ATMS also employs data analytics so that service personnel are better able to optimise planning considerations such as training resource allocation to achieve specific training outcomes with less administrative time required.
Virtual and Mixed Reality Simulators
The RSAF has continued to tap on technologies such as virtual and mixed reality to enhance training effectiveness and efficiency. The SPYDER missile loading training simulator recreates the missile loading process of the SPYDER system in an immersive and spatially accurate virtual environment, allowing the RSAF's Air Defence Systems Specialist (ADSS) trainees to hone their missile loading and unloading competencies and build their confidence prior to “hands-on” training on the actual SPYDER system. The simulator allows ADSS trainees to drill their procedures during contingency scenarios, which are difficult to replicate in real life, and enables training regardless of weather conditions or timing in the day, which enhances training efficiency and safety.
Efficient and Convenient NS Experience
Smart Army Camp
The Army continues to leverage smart technology to enhance the way the Army operates and interacts with servicemen. Following the conclusion of Smart Camp trials, initiatives common across all Army camps will be integrated and proliferated beginning with Stagmont Camp in 2023, Clementi and Kranji Camps in 2024, and the rest of the Army Camps from 2025 onwards. The key initiatives - Smart Store and Smart Armskote, Smart Workshop, Smart Cookhouse and the Camp Companion Mobile Application – will allow for the Army to enhance administrative processes leading to time savings for training and improved efficiency. The optimisation of these necessary daily routines will enhance the experience for servicemen.
OneNS Platform
The OneNS Platform (OneNS) is a one-stop platform that consolidates all digital services (such as SMART ICT) and transactions throughout an individual's NS journey. OneNS can anticipate and determine the unique needs of each serviceman and personalise digital services to ensure easy access to relevant information and services in a useful and timely manner for the serviceman. OneNS will be progressively rolled out from the second half of 2022 onwards.
Optimising Maintenance
Predictive Analytics and Maintenance
The Navy's Fleet Management System (FMS), through data analytics, will be able to support: (i) predictive engineering; (ii) predictive material provisioning; and (iii) mission support analytics. The health status data of combat and platform systems on ships will be transmitted back to shore for centralised monitoring and the prognosis of anomalies. Personnel, aided by the analysis of the FMS, will then be able to conduct tailored pre-emptive maintenance to optimise platform operational readiness throughout the deployment. The FMS will also determine usage patterns of engineering and logistics resources to enhance supply chain management as personnel will be able to arrange for maintenance material to be prepared ahead of time. The Navy is also conducting a trial on sound-based predictive maintenance where engineers determine whether a ship's system requires maintenance by applying machine learning to identify abnormalities in the sounds produced by the systems. Such algorithms will eventually be incorporated within the FMC to enable more accurate and precise predictive engineering.
The RSAF has developed a Smart Digital Supply Chain Concept (DSCC) that leverages predictive analytics to pre-emptively order and assign spares thus reducing the overall time taken for aircraft maintenance. As compared to the past where orders had to be manually input before delivery from the main supply depot, the predictive analysis model anticipates demand for spares and orders them in advance, allowing Air Force Engineers to have immediate access to the necessary spares when required. This reduces the overall time taken for aircraft maintenance and enhances the RSAF's operational readiness. Following the pilot implementation on the Chinook helicopters, the RSAF plans to progressively proliferate the DSCC to the other RSAF platforms.
Automation for Aircraft Maintenance
Air Force Engineers maintaining the F-15SG platform developed an automated spin-up kit to test the skid control of the F-15SG. In comparison to the original labour intensive process of using a pneumatic drill gun to spin the wheel speed detector manually at high revolutions, the spin-up kit automates the tests and allows for greater precision. This enhances safety and efficiency of the skid control test, and resulted in 83% man-hour savings annually for the team.
More Resources
Fact Sheet: Updates to the Establishment of the Digital and Intelligence Service
Infographic: F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for Next-Generation SAF