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SINGAPORE: Singapore is committed to contributing within its means and in a useful way to multinational reconstruction efforts, says Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean.
And back at home, the country's investments in defence research and development are critical as the technologies the SAF needs may not be available on the open market.
Singapore has a Weapon Locating Radar detachment and a medical team deployed in Oruzgan province in Afghanistan.
The Republic's role in these efforts has been welcomed by the International Security Asisstance Force commanders, says Defence Minister Teo.
Mr Teo said: "I had the opportunity to visit our soldiers in Afghanistan last November and saw first-hand the contributions of our personnel. The feedback I received from the International Security Assistance Force or ISAF commanders showed that our deployments are making a valued contribution towards the stabilisation and reconstruction efforts. We also continue to deploy construction engineering teams to Bamiyan."
Come April, Singapore will deploy a surgical team to Oruzgan for the first time.
Singapore is also prepared to deploy a KC-135 aerial refuelling tanker and an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Task Group to Afghanistan while in the Gulf of Aden, it'll deploy a second Task Group, comprising a Landing Ship Tank with two Super Pumas and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft.
This will be from June to October this year, as well as a Maritime Patrol Aircraft from December 2010 to February 2011.
Mr Teo stressed that every international deployment the SAF undertook was carefully considered.
Mr Teo said: "Such deployments do involve risks to our servicemen which can be significant. However, where there is real and important work to be done, there will be attendant risks.
“Therefore, we must make sure that our servicemen are well equipped and trained, and receive additional training specific to their mission and area of operation."
Thats why the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) also invests in research and development, up to four per cent of the defence budget.
GPC Chair, Defence and Foreign Affairs, Michael Palmer said: "In our 3G SAF, the power of this technology is not only that we have it. It lies in the networked capabilities of these machines, thereby giving the force more speed, precision and mobility."
"To this end, there was a concerted effort to network and connect each different component part so as to enable all parts to work as a whole. This would include making use of electronic and computer technology and the requisite training to achieve an Integrated Knowledge-Based Command and Control."
Like this mini tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or UAV called the Skyblade, whose primary mission is to support Army battalion operations.
Mr Teo said: "Development of such mini-UAVs was technically very challenging as all the sub-systems had to be small and lightweight. DSO engineers had to work out a design within a very tight weight budget that would include optical devices with sufficient resolution, pointing accuracy and stabilisation so that it could capture clear video imagery.
“A miniaturised communications data-link had to be incorporated to transmit the video back.
“The mini-UAV also needed a good engine and a high-capacity battery pack for meaningful mission time and range, and it had to be robust enough to survive repeated take-offs and landings."
Mr Teo explained that after extensive trials and evolution, the design was refined and transferred to ST Engineering to produce the Skyblade III.
ST Engineering has proceeded to develop the production model successfully.
These UAVs are currently being delivered to equip the Army.
Mr Teo said: "DSO's expertise in unmanned systems is currently being applied also to land and underwater systems.
“It has successfully developed ground robots. Research is also ongoing with industry partners to develop unmanned underwater vehicles for underwater surveillance and mine counter-measures.
“These programmes illustrate the pay-offs from the investments into DSO's R&D capabilities which are a key part of the SAF's 3rd Generation transformation."
The needs of the operationally-ready national servicemen have also not been forgotten.
Parliament was also given an update on efforts by MINDEF to help NSmen to remain connected with their work commitments during their in-camp training, a key recommendation from the RECORD FIVE committee which was accepted recently by the government.
The result - business centres in the three largest training institutes where NSmen have their In-Camp Training.
Minister of State for Defence Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee, said: "NSmen can bring in their laptops and PDAs to use them at these business centres after training hours.
“These business centres will be equipped with wireless internet access to enable our NSmen to connect to their workplaces.
“We have received very positive feedback from our NSmen regarding this initiative and they are looking forward to the implementation next month."
But one area which needs more attention, says MP Indranee Rajah, is greater consciousness about total defence.
MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Indranee Rajah, said: "This year, Chinese New Year was on February 15 and the alarm was sounded. Someone asked me why the alarm is being sounded. Is it to celebrate the first day of Chinese New Year? I explained it was not. I explained 15th February is the day we fell to the Japanese. So MINDEF might be better off trying to link it to Valentine's Day which is 14th of February and tell everybody after 'love' comes 'war'."
Minister of State, Associate Professor Koo Tsai Kee noted that total Defence had become even more relevant, as it provided Singapore with a whole-of-nation framework for overcoming potential threats and challenges.
"It is critical that all Singaporeans understand that everyone has a role to play in defending Singapore and in building a strong nation that is vigilant, prepared and resilient," he said.
MINDEF said it will continue to use creative means to engage Singaporeans and enhance their personal commitment to total defence. - CNA/vm
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