Committee of Supply 2023 debate, Day 1: Ng Eng Hen on defence being ‘a long-term business’
“We must never forget that defence is a long-term business,” said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Friday (Feb 24). He explained that major systems and platforms take 10 to 15 years to conceptualise, build and integrate into the Singapore Armed Forces, and this is assuming everything runs smoothly. If a military loses its capability and wants to build it back, it may take twice that long, he said. Describing a backdrop of intensifying global competition, Dr Ng noted that Asian countries - especially in northeast Asia - have been upsizing their militaries and this “can spell trouble ahead”. He announced an increase in the defence budget of 5.6 per cent to about S$18 billion, attributing the higher spending to three main reasons - inflationary pressures, catching up on projects disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and building up the SAF’s digital and non-kinetic capabilities. Dr Ng also revealed that Singapore will acquire eight more F-35B fighter jets, taking its fleet to 12 by the end of this decade. The planes, among the most advanced in the world, will replace the air force’s ageing fleet of F-16s. As part of its transformation, the SAF is also investing in training upgrades, including the use of advanced training simulators and a new digital range. Meanwhile, the fourth arm of the SAF - the Digital and Intelligence Service, which was formally established last October - has “picked up some entities” that could pose a threat and is monitoring their activities. Dr Ng also said his ministry and the SAF have been watching the war in Ukraine very closely as it is the only one in which modern, state-on-state warfare has been fought in recent times. He said while there are military lessons to be learned, more importantly the conflict has shown that “it is the fighting spirit of the people that will decide if they end up subjugated or sovereign”. He urged Singaporeans to build that same spirit and resolve.
“We must never forget that defence is a long-term business,” said Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen in Parliament on Friday (Feb 24). He explained that major systems and platforms take 10 to 15 years to conceptualise, build and integrate into the Singapore Armed Forces, and this is assuming everything runs smoothly. If a military loses its capability and wants to build it back, it may take twice that long, he said. Describing a backdrop of intensifying global competition, Dr Ng noted that Asian countries - especially in northeast Asia - have been upsizing their militaries and this “can spell trouble ahead”. He announced an increase in the defence budget of 5.6 per cent to about S$18 billion, attributing the higher spending to three main reasons - inflationary pressures, catching up on projects disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic and building up the SAF’s digital and non-kinetic capabilities. Dr Ng also revealed that Singapore will acquire eight more F-35B fighter jets, taking its fleet to 12 by the end of this decade. The planes, among the most advanced in the world, will replace the air force’s ageing fleet of F-16s. As part of its transformation, the SAF is also investing in training upgrades, including the use of advanced training simulators and a new digital range. Meanwhile, the fourth arm of the SAF - the Digital and Intelligence Service, which was formally established last October - has “picked up some entities” that could pose a threat and is monitoring their activities. Dr Ng also said his ministry and the SAF have been watching the war in Ukraine very closely as it is the only one in which modern, state-on-state warfare has been fought in recent times. He said while there are military lessons to be learned, more importantly the conflict has shown that “it is the fighting spirit of the people that will decide if they end up subjugated or sovereign”. He urged Singaporeans to build that same spirit and resolve.
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