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AsiaOne
27-05-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
SAF has to come up with new ways to overcome challenges: Chan Chun Sing, Singapore News
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) must "constantly re-examine" its operations to overcome new challenges, said Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing on Tuesday (May 27). Chan was speaking to reporters at Nee Soon Camp, the final stop in his morning visit of high readiness units across all four SAF services — his first since being sworn into his new appointment on May 23. "We are in a changed world. There are new challenges, disruptions because of technology, and new forces that we have to content with," said Chan. "But it is also why we have come up new ways to overcome our challenges." During his visit to Nee Soon Camp, Chan observed troopers from the Army Deployment Force (ADF) conduct their routine training to sharpen their response to peacetime contingencies, such as terrorism threats and disaster relief. The all-regular unit were put through the paces, accounting for strength and equipment, before they were deployed in peacekeeper protected response vehicles. Chan said that he is heartened that the SAF is not resting on its laurels, and is "constantly re-examining the way it does its operations". "It's not just about planning for today's situation that's important for the SAF. It's also about planning forward," he added. Earlier in the morning, Chan, together with Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad and Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, observed how AH-64D Apache helicopter pilots and air crew from the Republic of Singapore Air Force scrambled to respond to a simulated air threat. It is part of Exercise Rover, run by RSAD's Air Power Generation Command from May 22 to 31. A part of Sembawang Country Club's golf course was converted into a temporary helicopter deployment area — capable of supporting missions such as air defence and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief. Mindef said that as part of the exercise, AH-64D, H225M and CH-47 helicopters were activated to respond to various scenarios. The minister also visited the Republic of Singapore Navy's training, where the Maritime Security Task Force simulated how they neutralised a terrorist attack against Singapore from the sea. As for the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), he was briefed on its intelligence support for counter-terrorism operations. He also interacted with the DIS personnel who conduct 24/7 intelligence monitoring. Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Chan acknowledged that the armed forces capabilities can take years to go from being conceptualised to operational. "Many of the things that I saw this morning, some of them were capabilities that we were talking about many years ago," he said. "And today it's a joy to see them being operational." Chan, a former Education Minister, was moved to helm the defence ministry in Prime Minister Lawrence Wong's new Cabinet on May 21. A former army chief before entering politics in 2011, Chan was also Senior Minister of State for Defence and Second Minister for Defence. [[nid:714267]] chingshijie@
Straits Times
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
More than 1,000 troops from US army and SAF carry out exercise in urban warfare
A soldier from the Singapore Army (left) works with his counterparts from the US Army during urban operations at Safti City for Exercise Tiger Balm. PHOTO: MINISTRY OF DEFENCE More than 1,000 troops from US army and SAF carry out exercise in urban warfare SINGAPORE - More than 1,000 troops drawn from the Singapore and US armies executed urban warfare drills with air support from RSAF Apache helicopters and drones during a 12-day b ilateral exercise . This year, it was Singapore's turn to host Exercise Tiger Balm - the longest-running bilateral exercise that the Republic and US have in place. The Ministry of Defence (Mindef), in a statement on May 16 , said 823 soldiers from the SAF and 257 soldiers from the US army too part in the exercise. The SAF troops were drawn from the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense and Strike (6 Div/HQ SS) and the 7 6th Singapore Infantry Brigade. The US soldiers came from the Hawaii Army National Guard and the 29th Infantry Battalion Combat Team . The exercise lasted nearly two weeks - from May 5 to May 16 - during which soldiers ran through combat exercises and other drills, including urban warfare drills in Safti City. Safti City is a high-tech urban training facility that mimics a densely built-up town, complete with MRT stations, a 12-storey hotel, a school, and malls. Apart from the AH-64D Apache helicopters and Heron 1 unmanned aerial vehicle s from the Republic of Singapore Air Force , a Strike Observer Mission team from the army carried out reconnaissance work during the exercise. On the sidelines, subject matter expert exchanges took place, dealing with the evolution of chemical, biological, radiological and explosive threats. Brigadier-General Anand Sathi Kumar , commander of 6 Div/HQ SS, said the exercise this year incorporated new urban combat missions and unmanned technologies as part of the training. The exercise, he added, reaffirmed the deep and strategic partnership between Singapore and the US. Now into its 44th year , Exercise Tiger Balm was first conducted in 1981. The Mindef statement said: 'This annual exercise allows both armies to collaborate and share tactics, techniques and procedures, and is the hallmark of the excellent and long-standing ties between both armed forces. 'These regular interactions have fostered and enhanced the professionalism, friendships and mutual understanding among personnel from both armies.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Poland leases eight Apache gunships as warmup ahead of major delivery
WARSAW, Poland — The Polish Ministry of National Defence has signed a $300 million deal to lease eight Boeing AH-64D Apache helicopters from the United States this year. The contract comes in anticipation of the deliveries of 96 AH-64E copters Poland ordered in August 2024. Speaking at the official signing ceremony on Feb. 27 at the 56th Aviation Base in Inowrocław, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and National Defence Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the intention is to prepare the air force for operating a large Apache fleet designed to boost its attack capabilities. 'In 2028, we are awaiting the first 15 of the 96 units that we ordered last year for a considerable amount of 10 billion dollars,' Kosiniak-Kamysz was quoted in a statement released by his ministry. 'This is why we are leasing today, we are spending $300 million on this, so that our pilots, ground crews can get familiar with this gear, learn all the skills, take control of it.' Deliveries of the 96 aircraft with related gear and weapons are scheduled to be completed in 2032. Once the helicopters are supplied to Poland, the country's military is expected to be the second-largest user of the Apaches in the world after the United States. Under the offset agreements concluded as part of the procurement, Polish defense companies will be involved in servicing and upgrading the helos.
