Singapore Army
The Singapore Army is the land service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The largest of the four branches of the SAF, the Singapore Army traces its origins to the 1st Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (1 SIR), which was formed in 1957, when Singapore was still under British colonial rule. After Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965, the Singapore Army Bill was passed in Parliament on 23 December 1965, and National Service (NS) was subsequently introduced in 1967.[8] Mostly made up of conscripts, the Singapore Army can mobilise all operationally-ready military reservists in the event of war or national exigencies.
Singapore Army
12 March 1957
'Ready, Decisive, Respected'
Singapore Infantry Regiment March
Mission[edit]
The mission of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) is to deter armed aggression, and to secure a swift and decisive victory should deterrence fail. The Army is also tasked with conducting peace-time operations to further Singapore's national interests and foreign policy. These range from disaster relief to peacekeeping, hostage rescue and other contingencies.[9]
The Army views technology as a force-multiplier and a means to sustain combat power given Singapore's population constraints. Jointness across four branches of the SAF is integral to the Army's warfighting doctrine. Joint operations undertaken with the Navy and Air Force include amphibious landings and critical disaster relief operations in the aftermath of the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
The Army has a technically proficient, relatively well-educated draftee pool and officer corps (non-commissioned and commissioned) reflective of the population at large, and has sought to leverage this to ease its transition into a more sophisticated, networked fighting force.[10]
Combat readiness is a linchpin of Army policy, and military exercises up to divisional level are conducted many times yearly, simulating full-spectrum operations, up to and including full-scale war. Divisional war games are a combined arms, tri-service affair involving the Navy and Air Force. Because training space is limited in Singapore—artillery fire would quickly traverse the island—some military exercises are conducted overseas. Reservists periodically[11] train abroad, their units regularly evaluated for combat readiness.[10] The Army also trains bilaterally with some host nations, and military exchanges are frequent. Training is billed as "tough, realistic and safe," with a premium on safety, given the sensitivity of military deaths in a largely conscript army.[9]
Following the revolution in military affairs, and in tandem with modernising its weapons systems, the Army is forging a transition to a more network-centric fighting doctrine that better integrates the Air Force and Navy.[12]
Operations[edit]
The Singapore Army has participated in peacekeeping operations overseas. In the aftermath of the Gulf War, Singapore contributed to the United Nations Iraq–Kuwait Observation Mission (UNIKOM) formed in 1991. From May 2007 to June 2013, the Singapore Army deployed about 500 personnel to join the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in maintaining stability and assist in reconstruction in war-torn Afghanistan.[16] Since 2014, the Singapore Army has provided logistical support to the international coalition in the War against the Islamic State.[17]
Singapore Army's Leopard 2A4 at the Singapore Airshow 2008.
AMX-10PAC 90 with the 90mm main gun
SM-1 Launched Bridge (SLB)
M728 Combat Engineer Vehicle (CEV)
FV180 Combat Engineer Tractor (CET)
The Vehicle Launched Bridge
The Bionix Armoured Recovery Vehicle (ARV)
The Bionix Launched Bridge (BLB)
The 105mm Giat LG-1 howitzer at the SAF Open House
FH-2000 in towing configuration
Open breech of FH-2000 as seen from loader position
The SLWH Pegasus at the Singapore Airshow 2008
The 155mm/39calibre Singapore Self-Propelled Howitzer 1 (SSPH 1)
SPIKE ATGM complete with mock-up missile
The MATADOR (Man-portable Anti-Tank, Anti-DOoR)
The new CIS-50 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun
