SAF Constantly Re-examining Ops to Deal With New Threats: Chan

Minister Confident It Can Deploy New Capabilities to Boost Singapore's Defence

- Ng Wei Kai

As sirens sounded, uniformed personnel sprinted across Sembawang Country Club's golf course to a staging area, where two Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) AH-64D attack helicopters were scrambled to deal with a simulated threat.

Within minutes, the helicopters, also known as Apache Longbows, were in the air.

The operation, part of an ongoing exercise by the RSAF's Air Power Generation Command that will run until May 31, was witnessed on May 27 by Singapore's new Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing.

Also present were Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad and newly appointed Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, as well as Chief of Defence Force Aaron Beng, permanent secretary for defence Chan Heng Kee and permanent secretary for defence development Melvyn Ong.

The visit was one segment of Mr Chan's "reacquainting" with the Singapore Armed Forces on May 27, as he also visited units involved in counter-terrorism operations in the army, navy and Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) and observed their training.