Committee of Supply 2025 debate, Day 2: Ng Eng Hen on building up Singapore's military capabilities
Singapore counts on itself - no one else - for its protection, and building up its armed forces is a continual exercise; “you either upgrade or regress”, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament on Monday (Mar 3). Outlining his ministry’s spending plans, Dr Ng said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will buy two more submarines to take its fleet to six. The current four is “not optimal” as submarines need rigorous and frequent maintenance, reducing their operational time. The Navy will also launch its first multi-role combat vessels (MRCVs) this year. The Army will acquire a new infantry fighting vehicle called “Titan”, with significantly enhanced firepower. The Air Force is looking into appropriate replacements for its Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft. With all these added capabilities, Dr Ng said the SAF, as a relatively small military, would have transformed itself with state-of-the-art platforms comparable to advanced militaries elsewhere and fit for the country’s security purposes. MINDEF’s expenditure is projected to be around S$23.4 billion this financial year, up 12.4 per cent from 2024. A “sizeable” figure, Dr Ng said, due to catching up on projects deferred or disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, defence spending has stayed within the range of three per cent of GDP over the past decade and should taper down from FY2026, he added. The SAF is also building new capabilities to guard against the threat from unmanned aerial systems such as drones, setting up two new commands to counter cyber threats, and establishing teams to adapt new technologies on the battlefield in real-time. Pulau Tekong will be expanded to stretch 10km in distance to serve as a training area for soldiers and combat vehicles. Dr Ng also elaborated on how Singapore is strengthening its partnerships with other countries to address common security challenges.
Singapore counts on itself - no one else - for its protection, and building up its armed forces is a continual exercise; “you either upgrade or regress”, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen told parliament on Monday (Mar 3). Outlining his ministry’s spending plans, Dr Ng said the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will buy two more submarines to take its fleet to six. The current four is “not optimal” as submarines need rigorous and frequent maintenance, reducing their operational time. The Navy will also launch its first multi-role combat vessels (MRCVs) this year. The Army will acquire a new infantry fighting vehicle called “Titan”, with significantly enhanced firepower. The Air Force is looking into appropriate replacements for its Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft. With all these added capabilities, Dr Ng said the SAF, as a relatively small military, would have transformed itself with state-of-the-art platforms comparable to advanced militaries elsewhere and fit for the country’s security purposes. MINDEF’s expenditure is projected to be around S$23.4 billion this financial year, up 12.4 per cent from 2024. A “sizeable” figure, Dr Ng said, due to catching up on projects deferred or disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Even so, defence spending has stayed within the range of three per cent of GDP over the past decade and should taper down from FY2026, he added. The SAF is also building new capabilities to guard against the threat from unmanned aerial systems such as drones, setting up two new commands to counter cyber threats, and establishing teams to adapt new technologies on the battlefield in real-time. Pulau Tekong will be expanded to stretch 10km in distance to serve as a training area for soldiers and combat vehicles. Dr Ng also elaborated on how Singapore is strengthening its partnerships with other countries to address common security challenges.
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