With cyber space being widely recognised as a fast-expanding domain of modern warfare, militaries around the world are faced with a threat that is very real. Attacks have increased in recent years, and countries such as Russia, the United States (US) and Iran have fallen victim to cyber attacks. Because of the nature of cyber attacks, the rules that generally govern modern warfare in domains such as land, air, sea and space will not apply in the cyber domain. In this essay, the author discusses the challenges that the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are faced with in today’s cyber age, and highlights the steps it must take in order to ensure continued peace and security in Singapore.

In the military sphere, sustainability is often overlooked or disregarded as being irrelevant. It may be seen to be in direct conflict with other objectives. Furthermore, sustainability measures may be ignored for the sake of convenience. The main concern of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will always be of security, and safeguarding national interests. However, the SAF does plan for long-term measures to reduce inefficiency. This is especially prudent considering the large share of the national budget allocated to defence expenditure. This essay will attempt to address the roles that sustainability plays in the SAF as well as envision certain areas where measures to improve sustainability may be implemented.

The threat of terrorism is always present, but the public was only given a wake-up call to the devastating impacts of terrorism after the September 11 attacks in the United States (US). Since then, many countries have stepped up their counter-terrorism efforts and measures. For example, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) adopted a comprehensive approach to improve the regional security. In this essay, the author examines the terrorism threat in Southeast Asia, exploring the possible scenarios of a maritime terrorist attack in the region and thoroughly assesses the region’s counter-terrorism efforts that have been put in place. The author also introduces an Opportunity, Capability and Intent (OCI) framework as a form of threat assessment, to affirm his stand that the terrorist threat in Southeast Asia is indeed very real.

Since the invention of the aeroplane by the Wright Brothers in 1903, developments in aerial space, particularly in airpower, have moved at a rapid pace. For countries whose militaries have developed a competent air force, airpower gives them a myriad of capabilities to protect their country’s air space and security, such as the ability of airpower to access targets beyond the capabilities of the army and navy and to effectively destroy key infrastructure or high value targets with its penetration and range. Yet, with the advancement of weaponry such as Surface-to-Air missiles and Integrated Air Defence Systems, a more precise theorisation of airpower may be required to ensure the safety of a country’s defence. This essay aims to give a technological perspective of the future of airpower, as well as a detailed analysis of unmanned aerial vehicles’ role in operations today and its potential advantages and disadvantages.

This essay examines the challenges in designing a Command and Control Information System (CCIS) that shortens the Observe-Orientate-Decide-Act (OODA) cycle for an integrated Armed Force. This involves the co-ordination of air, land and sea assets of the Armed Forces, as well as cyber security necessary to ensure the robustness and resilience of the system. The mission-domains requirements of the CCIS and the impact of the environment and tactical operations at the different air-land-sea physical domains are examined in-depth. The essay also proposes a framework in the Requirement Analysis to achieve comprehensive requirements for CCIS system design across multi-domain operations.

The working culture in the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) started out as a hierarchy culture, like most militaries. However, given the recent technological advances and shifts towards a more integrated and interdependent military, there has been a notable shift towards a somewhat clan culture. This essay aims to explain the shift in culture and its potential merits. It also aims to critically view the place that social intelligence has in this new culture and roles that different motivational theories may have on the individual. The authors also feel that an understanding of motivational theories would allow the RSAF to keep her people on the ‘edge of their seat’, maintaining a healthy balance between the two extremes of staying stagnant due to being unmotivated and complacent from too much motivation. The authors also feel that having a deep understanding of motivation would help build a cohesive and nurturing working environment for the RSAF.