SAF unit to test urban warfare
weapons
It is the first time the SAF has dedicated a
unit to the art of street fighting and experimenting with weapons
and tactics
By David Boey
THE Singapore Armed Forces is converting an infantry battalion into
an experimental fighting force that will test new weapons and
tactics for urban warfare.
Urban warfare experiments will allow the SAF to further develop its
Advanced Combatman System, which aims to arm infantryman with
sensors that allow him to exchange information with other troops,
and see and shoot in the dark.
The 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR), based at
Bedok Camp, has been chosen for the experiment, which is meant to
help army planners decide how to arm and train infantry units to
deliver a knockout blow in urban battles.
The army considers its ability to conduct sustained operations in
urban settings an important part of its conventional warfare
capabilities.
Although all infantry units are trained in urban warfare, having a
unit dedicated to the craft and conducting experimental training
marks a major change for the SAF.
A big part of 3 SIR's training will involve testing new weapons and
technologies designed to transform the SAF's infantry combat arm
into a third generation fighting force, in line with the
modernisation of the rest of the armed forces.
For example, infantrymen of the future may no longer have to poke
their heads round street corners to see where the enemy is.
Instead, sensor-equipped battlefield robots could be sent by
commanders to find and attack enemy forces first.
New sensors may also be introduced to allow soldiers to fight
better in the dark.
And the infantryman of the future could wear wrist-mounted keypads,
allowing them to exchange information with other units to obtain a
fuller picture of developments on the battlefield.
Several hundred full-time national servicemen and regulars in 3 SIR
are now testing new weapons and equipment, assisted by defence
engineers from the Defence Science and Technology Agency and
defence company Singapore Technologies Engineering.
The weapons and tactics developed by them will help the infantryman
of tomorrow 'see better, sense better, shoot better and survive
better on urban battlefields', said Colonel Winston Toh, the
commander of a newly-created unit, the 9th Singapore
Division/Infantry Formation, yesterday.
The unit is the result of a merger between the 9th Singapore
Division and Headquarters Infantry, and will bring together
operational and staff planners.
This will help the SAF assess what is needed by the army of the
future in terms of weapons, battle skills and training.
The formation of the unit was announced at a parade held at
Selarang Camp, in Loyang, yesterday morning to mark Infantry Day -
the anniversary of the day the first batch of national servicemen
was enlisted into the SAF in 1967.
Addressing the parade, the Chief of Army, Major-General Desmond
Kuek, also announced the formation of a new Infantry Training
Institute.
It will take care of all training needs of infantry soldiers, from
basic military training until the end of the NS cycle.
Maj-Gen Kuek said these changes will strengthen the army's ability
to meet post Sept 11 challenges and allow it to tap advances in
'new and emerging technologies'.
'The army's mission has extended beyond the preparation for
conventional conflict to include the need to be responsive and
ready to deal with a whole new range of missions in peace such as
counter-terrorism, low-intensity conflict and operations other than
war.'
Straits Times 18 August 2004
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/topstories/story/0,4386,267662,00.html?
