WHY FORGING SABRE IS ONE OF SAF’S MOST COMPLEX EXERCISES

08oct19pnr-photo0 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/images/default-source/_migrated_english/08oct19pnr-photo05e09a9aa-b8d8-4864-acb6-4c03afa5f1f4.jpg?sfvrsn=32894b1_2 https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/WHY-FORGING-SABRE-IS-ONE-OF-SAF-S-MOST-COMPLEX-EXERCISES
WHY FORGING SABRE IS ONE OF SAF’S MOST COMPLEX EXERCISES https://www.defencepioneer.sg/pioneer-articles/WHY-FORGING-SABRE-IS-ONE-OF-SAF-S-MOST-COMPLEX-EXERCISES
08 Oct 2019 | OPS & TRAINING

WHY FORGING SABRE IS ONE OF SAF’S MOST COMPLEX EXERCISES

SAF tests smarter technology to enhance its sense and strike integration at the biennial exercise.

// REPORT BY THRINA THAM

// PHOTOS BY CHUA SOON LYE

English Melayu

A flurry of activity, the Command Post (CP) is the nerve centre of all Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) operations.

At Exercise Forging Sabre (XFS), this is where about 80 commanders and battle personnel conduct multiple missions concurrently. This includes target tracking and air strikes on enemy targets.

This year's XFS is held from 30 Sep to 10 Oct at the Mountain Home Range Complex in Idaho, United States. Here's what makes the exercise one of the SAF's most complex.

1) Smarter Tech Tested At CP

XFS 2019 sees the introduction of a new software that detects and marks enemy targets automatically from a live video feed. The feed is taken from a Heron 1 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle carrying out surveillance.

Named the Automatic Target Detection (ATD), the software is being trialled for the first time at the CP this year. It uses artificial intelligence to locate both static and moving targets. For instance, the ATD is able to pick out enemy trucks from a large cluster of civilian vehicles.

Previously, operators would have to analyse these images manually, relying on their own experience and knowledge to pick out the enemy.

The Command Post at XFS 2019.

The CP today also predicts the future location of moving targets more accurately, with the enhancement of its Target Look-Ahead software.

The software estimates where a target is headed and how long it will take to get there. It even takes into account "no engagement zones" when recommending possible areas to strike. These are areas marked by the CP to, for example, reduce collateral damage or civilian casualties.

The algorithm for this software and the ATD software were designed by engineers from the Defence Technology Community.

Defence Science & Technology Agency engineer Joshua Lim said: "The operators in the CP have to continuously man the Heron 1 video feed for long hours.

We wanted to automate this process through technology, so that it is less tedious for them and they have an enhanced awareness of the situation."

Mr Lim's team observed that a pain point among CP operators was combing through the live video feed to identify targets.

Air Director Colonel (COL) Aldrin Tan, who commands the CP, added: "The software help the battle staff come to decisions faster and recommend them to me.

"I'm happy to say that the information has been passed from intel to the strike (teams) seamlessly through the system. From there, everybody talks off the same page and there is no ambiguity. With this shared awareness, decision-making is a lot faster."

COL Tan commands the CP as part of his role as XFS Air Director.

2) Multiple Assets Working Together As One

Helping to ensure that the CP receives useful information from the Heron 1 is the Air Imagery Intelligence Expert (AIRIX).

Based in a remote Ground Based Unit (GBU), AIRIX Military Expert 4 (ME4) Joyce Tan analyses images from the Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and cues the pilot to investigate areas of interest. The pilot then works with the CP to carry out lasing of targets when needed.

"Things are very dynamic at Exercise Forging Sabre and they move fast at times. We are able to carry out different flight profiles that hone our skills and (this) teaches us to work as a team," said ME4 Tan.

While the CP may deploy the fighter jets to carry out complex strikes, they are still limited in where they can drop bombs – as they have to watch out for areas close to friendly forces or civilians.

This is where the Apache AH-64D attack helicopters come in.

As the Apaches launch missiles or rockets instead of bombs, they can attack within a smaller zone, said pilot Lieutenant (LTA) Ong Yan Zhuan.

"This gives the CP greater flexibility (in carrying out missions), especially in urban areas where friendlies and enemies can be in close proximity," he added.

LTA Ong and Apache Air Force Engineer ME1 A. Suryanarayanan have to work with the quick turnaround timings of missions at XFS.

3) Ramping Up Of Strike Capabilities

The 11-day exercise sees the progressive ramping up of mission complexity.

The F-16C/D and F-15SG fighter jets begin with an objective to hit just two targets, but this gets more challenging gradually.

It culminates in the fighters flying in a four-plane formation to take out six targets simultaneously – ensuring that enemies have no time to escape.

As the F-16C/Ds are only equipped to lase one target each, the Heron 1 UAV and Commandos on the ground play an important role in this strike mission.

"The F-16 drops a self-guided lased bomb and the Heron 1 lases (for) another bomb so that we can drop multiple bombs at one time," explained pilot Captain (CPT) Nigel Wong.

"The fighters function as the tip of the sphere. We get the weapons on time and on target but we are the last of the strike chain. We will always work with the Heron 1 and the Commandos who go in before us."

CPT Wong explaining how he is able to engage multiple targets simultaneously with the help of the Heron 1 as well as Commandos on the ground.
Suggested Reading
SAFVC turns 10, promotes senior volunteers to SV4
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

Marking a decade of duty, the SAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC) celebrates its 10th anniversary this year with a special parade featuring some of its first as well as latest batch of volunteers.

FROM COMMANDO TO NAVAL OFFICER
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

A Commando NSF turned Naval Officer, 2LT Arjan Singh made the transition from jungle to sea when he signed up with the Navy.

My Dad and I, marching together for S’pore
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

It’s not often you’ll find a father-and-son pair marching together at the National Day Parade (NDP), much less in the same Guard of Honour (GOH) contingent!

Cover story
ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT NDP 2025 PARADE & CEREMONY
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

This year’s NDP Parade & Ceremony segment will feature crowd favourites and a few new surprises!

Feature
S’PORE & INDONESIA CONCLUDE COUNTER-TERRORISM EXERCISE
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

About 160 personnel from the SAF and TNI took part in a bilateral counter-terrorism field training exercise, held from 2 to 4 Jun off the waters of Batam, Indonesia.

Feature
AIRFIELD, ANYWHERE
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

Military helicopters taking off and landing at a golf course? Find out how the RSAF turned Sembawang Country Club into a temporary outfield deployment area.

GOING ALONE IS NOT THE ANSWER TO INSECURITY – MR CHAN
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

“Going alone is not the answer to insecurity”, emphasised Minister for Defence Mr Chan Chun Sing at the Shangri-La Dialogue (SLD), held from 30 May to 1 Jun. This was one of his main points at his speech at the sixth plenary session on 1 Jun.

GOING ABOVE AND BEYOND FOR NS
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

From upgrading his PES to extending his NS service to supporting his NSman employees, CPT (NS) Chong Wee Yeat goes the extra mile for NS.

MR CHAN VIEWS OPS READINESS TRAINING IN FIRST VISIT TO SAF UNITS AS DEFENCE MINISTER
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

During his first visit as Minister of Defence, Mr Chan observed training conducted by high readiness units across the Services, as well as an ongoing RSAF exercise.

Feature
NDP 2025 PROMISES BIGGER, BETTER BIRTHDAY BASH FOR SG60
OPS & TRAINING
08 Oct 2019

This year’s National Day celebrations extend from the Padang to Marina Bay and the heartlands, with crowd favourites like the Mobile Column and new highlights like the Jump of Unity by the Red Lions and naval divers.