On 17 May, Neo Tiew Town became a warzone. Soldiers from the
Army Developmental Force equipped with
sophisticated gear stormed a HDB block, using shotguns to blast
locked doors open and fibrescopes to scout enemy positions while
being backed up by covering machine-gun fire. As the building was
secured, remote-controlled cars and tanks moved onto the streets to
sweep the place of enemies.
What actually transpired was a live demonstration of urban warfare
and the use of Fighting In Built-Up Areas (FIBUA) equipment in an
enclosed combat environment, witnessed by Chief of Army (COA), MG
Desmond Kuek and other commanders. In his visit, COA also heard a
presentation on the key developments in urban operations and viewed
static displays of the new equipment, weaponry and technology that
will be used in the near future for such combat.
Chief among the new features is the Tactical Engagement
System (TES), which consists of all the new equipment and
technology that will form soldiers standard gear during urban
exercises. Replacing the Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement
System, TES has the following new features:
· Shorter laser codes, for improved performance through smoke and
foliage;
· Lighter equipment, as it replaces part of the Skeletal Battle
Order;
· A sensor that can record the injuries sustained by a
soldier;
· A software-configurable weapon which can be programmed to
function like the various weapons used for real combat.<
The urban warfare demonstration also marked the launch of
Neo Tiew Town as a specially designed training ground with modified
features to support training for urban operations. For
example, the ground-level walls of the apartment blocks had been
demolished to allow troops to observe the exercise, and a building
was demarcated as a place of religion to make the soldiers aware of
sensitivities in urban warfare.
2SG Dominic Teo, one of the soldiers who took part in the
demonstration, said, The other training grounds for urban warfare
cater more for individual drills. For integrated and realistic
exercises, Neo Tiew Town is the best. He also thinks highly of the
TES, saying, It is much more flexible, with the functions more
realistic - it can tell you if you have received light injuries, or
heavy injuries.
The development and improvement in training facilities and
equipment to meet future challenges for urban warfare indeed shows
Our Army moving decisively forward on its transformation
journey.
-ANI