The 3rd Generation Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is progressively equipping tactical units with network capabilities, vital for ensuring mission success. One of these is the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS) for the soldiers.

ACMS Components

In a seven-man section, the two team leaders and section commander will be equipped with the ACMS. The components of the ACMS are:

Personal Radio. The radio enables soldiers to share information, in the form of data and voice, with other soldiers. It has a built-in Global Positioning System (GPS) that helps the soldier's command headquarters to track his location and that of friendly forces.

Communication Keypad. This portable keypad, designed for easy data input, also has hotkey buttons such "On-Contact" and "Call-For-Medic" to enable quick updates of the team's status to the command headquarters, and request assistance from nearby forces at the push of a button.

Portable Computer. The brain of the ACMS, the portable computer processes data collected by sensors, GPS, other ACMSs and user input to provide real-time information updates on the battlefield.

Head-mounted display (HMD). The HMD can switch its displays from a digital map to satellite images of the terrain to videos captured by the various sensors. Through the HMD, soldiers can see locations of targets and friendly forces which are plotted on the digital map.

Weapon Interactor. The section commander will also have an additional camera attached to his SAR 21, so that he can capture and send back images to the command headquarters through the quick buttons on the handguard. The sensor also allows him to survey and fire around corners without exposing himself.

In addition to the ACMS, soldiers are equipped with remote sensors such as a surveillance ball, a remote-control surveillance car and a key-hole sensor.

A Networked Force

With the ACMS and remote sensors, soldiers can track the positions of friendly and hostile forces, effectively engage their targets and concentrate efforts at critical locations. Such information sharing allows the soldiers to navigate accurately through the terrain and avoid known danger areas.

By feeding images back to the command headquarters, soldiers are not only fighters, but also sensors on the ground. They enable commanders to deploy firepower effectively at hostile locations and enhance battlefield coordination. Section commanders are also empowered to call for fire support and for the command headquarters to utilise higher command resources such as artillery, air assets and sensors, to enhance the lethality and situation awareness of their units.

With the integrated information flow, the seven-man section in the battlefield can now tap into the wider resources of the battalion. This significantly increases the lethality, situational awareness and survivability of the individual soldier.