Roundup of Speeches by Singapore Minister for Defence

04 Maret 2025

The SAF is now a modern four-service military able to operate effectively across all domains of air, land, sea, and digital. Building capability for the SAF is a continual exercise (infographic: Sing Mindef)

I’ll be speaking at the Committee of Supply Debate 2025 shortly. Tune in for live updates from my speech here.

The SAF is now a modern four-service military able to operate effectively across all domains of air, land, sea and digital. But building capacity and capability for the SAF is a continual exercise – you either upgrade or regress.

The Navy will also launch its first Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs) later this year. They replace our Victory-class corvettes, in service since 1989. Larger and with range three times that of the corvettes, the MCRVs act as a mothership with unmanned platforms.

The RSAF is evaluating appropriate replacements for the Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft, which are due for replacement having served for 30 years since 1993. 

All four submarines for the Republic of Singapore Navy will be operational by 2028. The SAF plans to procure two more – to make up a total of six – as the steady state for its submarine fleet (image: Sing Mindef)

We have recently confirmed the purchase of the F-35As from the US and look forward to establishing our F-35s and F-16 fighter training detachment at Ebbing Air National Guard Base.

The Army will have a Next Generation infantry fighting vehicle, called the “Titan”. Still wheeled, but it’s firepower will be upgraded with a 30mm cannon as a Remote Weapon System, and equipped with counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems capabilities.

The Army’s High Mobility Rocket System, or HIMARS, in-service since 2010 and battle-tested by Ukraine in the Russia-Ukraine War, will be upgraded to integrate newer and more capable rockets.

This new command will deal with digital threats against Singapore from state and non-state actors that threaten our digital backbone, without which our essential services will be crippled.

The Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol Aircraft are due for replacement, and The Republic of Singapore Air Force is evaluating appropriate replacements which include the Boeing P-8As and Airbus C295 (photo: Sing Mindef)

The second new DIS command is the Defence Cyber Command, which consolidates all MINDEF/SAF cybersecurity operations and capabilities, and partner Whole-of-Government and the industry to strengthen national cyber defence.

Almost three years after its inception, the DIS is now ready to stand up two new commands – the first being the SAF C4 & Digitalisation Command (SAFC4DC) that has two centres – the Digital Ops-Tech Centre and the new SAF Artificial Intelligence Centre. 

The SAF has already deployed unmanned platforms for operations. Today, operational patrols in the Singapore Strait are conducted by Unmanned Surface Vessels equipped with electro-optic devices, radars, and a 12.7mm weapon system. 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles too are now part of a soldier’s arsenal in the Army, much like binoculars for scouts, but with far greater range and precision. 

MINDEF recently confirmed the purchase of eight more F-35As, in addition to the 12 F-35Bs previously announced. An F-35 and F-16 fighter training detachment will also be established at Ebbing Air National Guard Base (photo: Sing Mindef)

Small commercial UASs are easily procured and can be retooled as weapons to inflict harm and destruction. A newly established SAF Counter-UAS Development and Operations group will be responsible to guard against such UASs.

The Army will also establish a similar office, named the Drone Accelerator for Rapid Equipping, or DARE, to scale up operations of unmanned air and ground vehicles for its units.

The Air Force has established a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Warfare and Tactics Centre, to drive the development of UAS warfare and integration with other SAF forces for operations. 

To ensure the SAF’s technological superiority such as in AI, the Future Systems and Technology Directorate and DSO National Laboratories have launched two AI Grand Challenges in partnership with AI Singapore, themed  “Robust AI” and “AI for Material Discovery”.

The Singapore Army will have a new infantry fighting vehicle named the Titan. It comes with a 30mm cannon as a Remote Weapon System and is equipped with counter-Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) capabilities. The High Mobility Rocket System (HIMARS) will also be upgraded to integrate more capable rockets (image: Sing Mindef)

The SAF has also set up technology adaptation teams, putting together both combatants and DSO and DSTA engineers – tasked to quickly source and adapt new technologies to resolve problems on the battlefield in quick and real time.

The SAF has put significant sums to invest in training infrastructure. SAFTI City Phase 1 has been available for training since October 2024 to train battalions in urban operations and homeland security.

Pulau Tekong will be expanded to stretch 10km in distance serve as the Army’s second manoeuvre training area for soldiers as well as combat vehicles.

Once the Greenvale Training Area is completed, the SAF will have a combined training area 10 times the size of Singapore – enabling up to 14,000 personnel and 2,400 vehicles to be deployed yearly.

The Navy will launch its first Multi-Role Combat Vessels later this year. They will replace our Victory-class corvettes in service since 1989, and act as a mothership with unmanned platforms (image: Sing Mindef)

The Shoalwater Bay Training Area has been expanded – resulting in the ability to conduct the largest edition of Exercise Wallaby last year, with over 6,200 personnel and approximately 490 platforms.

But given the rapid changes in our external environment, we will continue to monitor the situation closely, and if the need arises, we must be prepared to invest more in further strengthening our capabilities.

Even so, over the past decade, defence spending has stayed within the range of 3% of Singapore’s GDP. I expect growth in defence spending to taper down from FY26 and keep within this range over the next decade, barring any major conflicts or severe economic uncertainty.

These investments to build our defence must be treated as precious resources. For this Financial Year (FY), MINDEF/SAF’s expenditure is projected to be around S$23.4 billion – a 12.4% increase from FY24.

Equipped with electro-optic devices, radars, and a 12.7mm weapon system, the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Maritime Security USVs issue audio and visual warnings using strobe lights, sirens, and long-range acoustics devices and where justified, fire shots with its remote gun system – adding another layer of surveillance and operational response to Singapore’s maritime security system (photo: Sing Mindef)

Following my visit to the UK last year, I am glad to see deepening Singapore-UK defence ties with the UK’s Carrier Strike Group’s deployment to our region later this year. We look forward to its possible participation in FPDA exercises this year.

Both Air Forces will also be conducting the inaugural bilateral air patrol under the Singapore-Indonesia Coordinated Patrol, or PATKOR INDOPURA, later this year.

Both PM Wong and President Prabowo expressed support for more military engagements between the SAF and TNI, including joint training in Kalimantan.

With Indonesia, the Defence Cooperation Agreement has been in force since March 2024. It provides a strong basis for us to promote closer interactions between our defence establishments, especially in new areas of defence cooperation.

We also have good relations with Malaysia, our closest neighbour. Malaysia is at the helm of ASEAN this year, and we will support their Chairmanship as they uphold ASEAN Centrality and Unity, steering the ADMM and ADMM-Plus.

The Air Force will establish a new Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Warfare and Tactics Centre, driving development of UAS warfare and integration with other SAF forces for operations. The Army will also establish a similar office to scale up operations of unmanned air and ground vehicles for its units. Small commercial UASs are easily procured and can be retooled as weapons to inflict harm and destruction – a newly established SAF Counter-UAS Development and Operations group will be responsible to guard against such UASs (infographic: Sing Mindef)

My delegation and I acknowledge and appreciate the privileged access to both Vice Chairman Zhang and the pinnacle commander class at their NDU.

I also attended the 11th Beijing Xiangshan Forum where I met Vice Chairman of the Central Military Commission GEN Zhang Youxia and ADM Dong. I also had a dialogue session with the PLA’s pinnacle commander class at their National Defence University.

On China, I co-chaired the Singapore-China Defence Ministers’ Dialogue in May 2024 on the Shangri-La Dialogue’s sidelines with then-recently appointed Minister of National Defense ADM Dong Jun.

During my call with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, we affirmed our commitment to the long-standing defence relationship which has benefited Singpaore and United States. I invited him to the Shangri-la Dialogue and look forward to further strengthening our defence relations.

The Biosafety Level-4 lab building will complete construction in 2026. When operationalised, and in line with WHO and MOH guidelines, it will be certified as a Maximum Containment Facility to handle lethal bio agents and develop early disease control measures (photo: Sing Mindef)

The Protocol Amendment for the 1990 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in 2019 by then President Trump and then-PM Lee Hsien Loong, and extends the 1990 MOU for 15 years. The MOU remains the cornerstone document for our military ties and engagements. 

With the US, a Major Security Cooperation Partner, our collaborations with their Department of Defense and military are extensive. Our military engagements and mutual benefits have grown over the years. 

Our pilots have trained in the US since the early 1970s. F-16s, F-15SGs, and soon to be F-35s are manufactured by and purchased from US companies, alongside other high-end weapon platforms. Singapore invests heavily into our own defence and the US appreciates that.

Last year, the SAF’s Changi Regional Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Coordination Centre coordinated a delivery of aid supplies to Gaza via Jordan via an RSAF A330 Multi-Role Tanker Transport aircraft, a C-130 transport aircraft, and a commercial plane.

Pulau Tekong has also been built up, almost doubled from its original size with an expanded 10km of training space. Pulau Tekong will be the Army’s second manoeuvre training area for soldiers as well as combat vehicles (image: Sing Mindef)

In Sep 2024, the RHCC coordinated the delivery of aid supplies to communities affected by Typhoon Yagi in Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The RHCC also delivered another tranche of aid to Gaza via Jordan with the MRTT earlier this month.

SAF medical teams together with MOH medical teams may be able to deploy to such a place in the coming months.

The SAF is making plans to provide medical assistance to the people in Gaza, through other options in the region, such as Egypt, Jordan, and the UAE, where more civilians from Gaza have gone to receive treatment. 

The Network of ASEAN Chemical, Biological, and Radiological (CBR) Defence Experts will continue and complement efforts under the physical Regional CBR Centre that Singapore is setting up to strengthen the region’s capacity to deal with CBR threats.

Once the Greenvale Training Area in Australia is completed, the SAF will have a combined training area 10 times the size of Singapore (photo: Sing Mindef)

The Biosafety Level-4 lab building will complete construction in 2026. When operationalised, and in line with WHO and MOH guidelines, it will be certified as a Maximum Containment Facility to handle lethal bio agents and develop early disease control measures.

SG celebrates 60 years of independence this year. We will continue to build a strong SAF, to protect and keep Singapore as a sovereign and independent nation. I thank members for their support and personal commitment to build a strong defence and security for SG. 

Roundup of speeches by Senior Ministers of State for Defence Mr Heng Chee How and Mr Zaqy Mohamad for the Committee of Supply Debate 2025. They spoke on enhancements to the NS experience and training of our national servicemen, and partnering Singaporeans to strengthen community resilience and readiness for disruptions. 

I thank the House for their support for MINDEF’s budget, and to all Singaporeans for their part in safeguarding our home and way of life.

(Ng Eng Hen_Sing Defence Minister)