ADVANTAGE SAF

As the SAF transforms into the third-generation force, information will be an important asset. The colour of your uniform will not matter because information will be the glue that gels all SAF troops together. PIONEER visited the annual Exercise Wallaby held in Rockhampton, Australia and saw how the SAF would be using information as a tool and a weapon in the years to come.

An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) hovers in the dark gloomy sky and senses the presence of enemy armoured vehicles. It captures images of these vehicles and within minutes, the vehicles are under heavy fire and destroyed.

This could possibly be a typical battle scene for the third-generation SAF. Information is the key enabler in its transformation into an effective network-centric force.

Such use of information was well-demonstrated in Exercise Wallaby last year as the Singapore Army and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) took part in an integrated systems live-firing witnessed by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean and his Australian counterpart, Dr Brendan Nelson, on 29 Nov 06.

Integrated strike

After the UAVs and the Unmanned Ground Sensors (UGS) captured the images of the enemy forces, the visuals were beamed back to the command headquarters.

The commanders then devised a plan and marked out a target area, in which the enemy forces were entrapped by our ground forces and their firepower upon entry.

Lastly, with the help of information picked up by our sensors, the enemy forces were totally wiped out in a final assault by our F-16s and AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.

Commander 3rd Division and Land Exercise Director BG Tan Yih San said: "We've been experimenting with new concepts for the past few instalments of Exercise Wallaby, and this is the first time we have put together capabilities that we've experimented on over the past few years and brought down to the soldiers."

"Exercise Wallaby 2006 focused on the area of connectivity, where we allowed ground commanders to leverage on the SAF's different capabilities, such as the Air Force and the joint capabilities. This allows them to see further, strike deeper and move faster."

"Exercise Wallaby 2006 focused on the area of connectivity, where we allowed ground commanders to leverage on the SAF's different capabilities, such as the Air Force and the joint capabilities. This allows them to see further, strike deeper and move faster."

Enter the RSAF

This new war-fighting concept of using information to link up the Services has allowed the Air Force to complement, as well as support, the ground forces.

In fact, Exercise Wallaby 2006 was the largest air-land integrated exercise that the SAF has ever conducted.

Air Exercise Director COL Yeo Yee Peng felt that the exercise was a significant milestone, especially for the RSAF.

"Thanks to our host country, Australia, we could use the vast airspace in Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA)," said COL Yeo.

"With that, we could focus on employing a slice of the third-generation fighting force, leveraging on new war-fighting concepts and, through Integrated Knowledge Command and Control (IKC2) capabilities, share joint battle space and awareness so that we could fight as an integrated force and assist in the land objectives."

The newly-inaugurated 120 Squadron (120 SQN) and its fleet of Apaches, which are IKC2-equipped, took part in the exercise for the first time.

"What we have done now is to include the Army components into the overall network," explained Commanding Officer of 120 SQN LTC Sew Chun Liang.

"This exercise has given us more opportunities to execute the mission with army commanders and troops forming on the ground, with large air space and area of operations," he said.

"At the same time, we've lots of professional interaction to enhance the understanding of each other s operations. This has greatly helped us to move in the correct direction in air-land integration."

Opening more channels

The new division command post also made its debut in SWBTA. It boasted networked systems that gave personnel in the division a better situational awareness of the battlefield.

Connected by a low-cost data network and a wireless high bandwidth communication infrastructure, the command post was linked to its brigade command posts.

Enabling this communication channel was the Intelligent Connect Anywhere (iCONA) and Smart and Composable Operational Picture Environment (SCOPE) software.

iCONA, which is similar to the MSN Messenger programme, allows the user to send SMS, MMS, instant messages and even make conference calls, while SCOPE enables users to choose their desired forms of visualisation and customise their own situational maps.

Said LTA (NS) Lee Beng Yong: "Back in the good old days, we were not so well connected and had to use radio communications."

"iCONA and SCOPE are not too difficult to use since we are all used to the office PC environment, so these systems helped us a lot."

Tracking made easy

This edition of the exercise saw the 427th Battalion, Singapore Armoured Regiment (427 SAR) become the first NS unit to operate the Battlefield Management System (BMS)-equipped Armoured Fighting Vehicles (AFVs).

The BMS allows troops to network and share important data among friendly forces, such as information about the location of enemy forces, situation reports and Combat Service Support updates.

PIONEER spoke to the NSmen, who generally appreciated the use of technology and information in the modern way of fighting.

Said 2SG (NS) Yeo Yi Wei, a platoon sergeant with 427 SAR: "The new equipment and better technology allow us to go into the field with a better analysis of the situation."

He added: "Training has been made more realistic in terms of the accuracy of numbers, where the troops are being deployed, which forces are 'up' and which are 'down'. It has definitely brought about a greater level of realism in our training."

Agreeing with 2SG (NS) Yeo was Minister Teo, who interacted with the NSmen after viewing the live-firing, which had close integration and synchronised delivery of precision fire from both Army and Air Force fighting platforms.

These included the PRIMUS self-propelled howitzers, SPIKE, the Apache helicopters and the F-16 fighters.

Mr Teo said: "I asked them how they were doing. They said: 'Well, Sir, our skills are a little bit rusty, but after a few days in the field, we picked things up very quickly.' They also tried, for the first time, the Battlefield Instrumentation (BFI) System and the Tactical Engagement System (TES)."

"That gives them also the opportunity to experience what it is like to be shot at. So it gives them feedback as they are exercising in the field; it gives them more realism."

Exercise Wallaby clearly demonstrated how powerful and important information can be to the SAF. As it embarks on its transformation journey, armed with the power of information, the SAF will become a stronger, more effective and efficient force in the years to come.

"The Australian Defence Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, is kind enough to come out to visit our troops in the field and to give them encouragement. We appreciate that very much, we also appreciate the assistance that the Australian government and the Australian Defence Force have given to us to train in this area. It is very important for us to be able to operationalise and try out many of the things that we want to do in the SAF, to bring forward this transformation to the third-generation SAF."
Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean

A decade in Rockhampton

Time to pop the champagne!

Nope, it's not for the New Year. The SAF just celebrated its 10th year of presence in Rockhampton, Australia.

To commemorate the milestone, Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean was at Rockhampton Airport on 29 Nov 06 to unveil a plaque together with Australian Defence Minister Brendan Nelson and Rockhampton's Mayor Councillor Margaret Strelow. Also gracing the occasion were Member of Parliament Michael Palmer, MINDEF's Deputy Secretary (Policy) Ms Yeoh Chee Yan and senior SAF officers.

"This is an important relationship between Singapore and Australia," said Councillor Strelow at the unveiling ceremony. "Rockhampton welcomes the presence of soldiers and members of your community."

Looking forward to more good years in Rockhampton, Mr Teo told PIONEER: "We have a good relationship with the Australian government...I think in this day and age, we face common challenges and this kind of relationship is very important."

Making the SAF's presence felt on a daily basis in Rockhampton was the SAF Detachment Office headed by MAJ Mark Liang.

The detachment was formed in 1993, operating from Meeandah Base in Brisbane before moving to its current location two years later.

The detachment serves as a bridge between the SAF forces and the Australian community in Rockhampton.

It liaises with the ADF regularly to prepare for the SAF's yearly exercise in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, and maintains good relations with the contractors who maintain the SAF's fleet of vehicles in Rockhampton.

"This occasion reflects the good working relationship between Australia and Singapore," said MAJ Liang. "Australia, especially the people from Rockhampton and Yeppoon, give lots of support and hospitality to our troops during Exercise Wallaby each year."

While Exercise Wallaby was taking place in the Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA), there were plenty of interesting things happening on the sidelines. PIONEER shares them with you.

* One of the RSAF's Chinook helicopters took part in a Search and Rescue mission in Australia. The wife of an Australian man called the police for help after her husband went sailing and did not return after a few days. The local police sought the help of the RSAF and the Chinook, which was in the vicinity, helped to look for the man. But it was a false alarm - he had apparently sailed out to Keppel Bay in Yeppoon without telling his wife! Still, the incident highlighted the good working relationship between the SAF and the local authorities.

* While SAF troops were busy practising their tactical movements in SWBTA, the SAF Music and Drama Company (MDC) was making waves in Rockhampton, impressing local crowds with their performances. They put up 21 shows to loud cheers and applause. The Morning Bulletin, a local daily, reported that Rockhampton residents, from school children to senior citizens, rushed to secure tickets to SAF MDC's new show, G'day, Australia!

* During Exercise Wallaby, there was a sudden influx of Singaporeans in the quiet town of Rockhampton. At every shopping centre or restaurant, there was a good chance of spotting a Singaporean. In fact, most of the accommodation in the small Australian town was booked by Singaporeans! Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean had this to say: "We're glad that we can contribute something to the local community here. More importantly, it's to build the people-to-people relationship. Our people enjoy coming to Rockhampton!"