Singapore Armed Forces

[chino]

It has been 19yrs since I'd left Singapore to live abroad. 19yrs since I'd served in uniform as a reservist.

 

1983 - 1985 Full time National Service S2 Branch Infantry Brigade

1987 - 1997 Reservist Rifleman.

 

Here's my attempt at recording of what this little army that has never fought a war is made up of.

 

Some of the stuff from my time are still in use. Many are phased out.

 

72,000 (active, including 35000 conscripts)
350000+ (reserve)

(numbers probably exaggerated)

 

We are a well-equipped force in SE Asia.

 

This record include stuff that are since obsolete (like me), foreign bought stuff, stuff that we developed ourselves, some built under-license, some locally-modified.

 

It is surprising that along with China, Japan, S Korea, N Korea, we are one of the most well-developed arms manufacturers in Asia. (I'm sure India makes a lot of stuff too but they make shite most of the time.)

 

It would appear our "defense" industry has been trying to carve out a niche by creating lightweight, small-sized, simple, cheap but effective stuff. As opposed to overly large, overly high-tech, expensive super duper stuff.

 

The industry learned its craft in the last 40 years by building M16 under license, repairing and upgrading obsolete tanks.

Edited April 28, 2016 by chino

[chino]

The Bionix Family

Over 700 vehicles

(locally-developed)

Operational since 1997 till today

 

Trialed by US Army but rejected in favour of what is now the Stryker.

Fits into the C-130.

 

Bionix I 25mm Bushmaster (made 1997 to 2001)

 

 

Bionix 40/50

 

Bionix I 25mm & 40/50

 

 

 

Bionix II 30mm Bushmaster

 

 

Bionix ARV

 

Bionix AVLB

 

Bionix CMV Trailblazer (counter mine vehicle)

Edited April 25, 2017 by chino

[chino]

F-15SG

(Quietly expanded from 20 to 40 in service)

 

Edited April 29, 2016 by chino

[chino]

Formidable Class (derivative of French La Fayette Class Stealth Frigates)

First one built in France, the other five built locally.

 

 

The radar cones keep changing shape.

Edited May 21, 2016 by chino

[chino]

asdgshtrsns

Edited April 25, 2017 by chino

[chino]

lksfg

Edited April 25, 2017 by chino

[chino]

Primus 155 SSPH 1

(locally developed)

50 in service

 

 

Edited April 28, 2016 by chino

[JasonJ]

Singapore military budget has increased proportionately to GDP in 2015, from 3.2% in 2014 to 3.3% of GDP in 2015, a 5.7% increase over 2014's budget.

 

http://thediplomat.com/2015/03/singapores-defense-budget-climbs-5-7-percent/

 

http://www.singaporebudget.gov.sg/data/budget_2015/download/25%20MINDEF%202015.pdf

[chino]

RSAF G550 AEW

4 in service

With this level of surveillance, it is surprising we released no data about the flight path of the missing MH370. It is probably so that we don't reveal the range our surveillance reach in the region.

 

Edited April 28, 2016 by chino

[chino]

Singapore Leopard 2SG family

About 200 vehicles including non-MBT types.

(MBT locally modified)

[chino]

Submarines

They are 20 and 40yr old platforms refurbished Swedish subs.

 

4 Challenger (Sjöormen) class. (40yr-old refurbished, 2 decommissioned)

2 Archer (Västergötland) class. (20yr-old refitted with air independent propulsion for more stealth and longer submersion)

2 ThyssenKrupp Type 218SG (new, on order)

 

 

Edited April 29, 2016 by chino

[chino]

CIS 50MG
(Locally developed)

 

(Licensed manufacture by Indonesia)

 

Edited May 1, 2017 by chino

[tankerwanabe]

Who are the biggest threat to Singapore and where are the most likely attach routes?

[chino]

20 F-16C

 

Contract signed with Lockheed to upgrade including AESA radar

 

Edited April 30, 2016 by chino

[chino]

40 F-16D Block 52/52+

 

 

Edited April 29, 2016 by chino

[chino]

Who are the biggest threat to Singapore and where are the most likely attach routes?

 

Most likely the land route from Malaysia like in WW2. But no clear threat from any neighbouring country anymore. More likely to be Islamic terrorism as the biggest threat just like everyone else.

[chino]

Expansion of F-15SG fleet, and refitting of F-16 fleet, indicates delay in original decision to buy F-35.

[Burncycle360]

Not knowing much about Singapore, what is the root of Singapore's economic success that enables them to afford this? Abundance of some natural resource?

[JasonJ]

1 factor.

 

http://www.straitstimes.com/opinion/japan-singapore-and-50-years-of-post-war-friendship

[chino]

The one single reason:

 

Great geographic location making us the go-to seaport crossing from Pacific, SCS to Indian Ocean.

 

If not for this, we can have the right government, policies, people etc and it could still fail, given our tiny size.

[JasonJ]

The one single reason:

 

Great geographic location making us the go-to seaport crossing from Pacific, SCS to Indian Ocean.

 

If not for this, we can have the right government, policies, people etc and it could still fail, given our tiny size.

 

Hong Kong.

[chino]

Specialised Marine Craft Type ?

Stealth Naval Interceptor

Edited April 29, 2016 by chino

[chino]

Type 2

(Under development)

 

Edited April 30, 2016 by chino

[JasonJ]

Singapore also gets a lot of foreign investment.

 

http://sbr.com.sg/markets-investing/news/guess-who-are-singapore%E2%80%99s-top-foreign-investors-now

 

Good use of investment is critical, to not let it go to waste.

 

Of course geography is also a factor, but saying that it is the only factor completely ignores quality of human resources. I don't think it is difficult to find other places that are at strategic locations and yet still fail in development an impressive economy, let alone a half decent one. As far as I can tell, only massive amounts of oil can make up for weak human resources in enabling a small country to becoming wealthy. High quality human resource is most critical. What would happen to Singapore if they continue their massive immigration of low skill workers? Or rather, for thought experiment, if the entire population of Singaporeans were exchanged for a full replacement of said immigrant population, would it still be reasonable to expect the economic miracle to occur? I think not.

[sunday]

Singapore also gets a lot of foreign investment.

 

http://sbr.com.sg/markets-investing/news/guess-who-are-singapore%E2%80%99s-top-foreign-investors-now

 

Good use of investment is critical, to not let it go to waste.

 

Of course geography is also a factor, but saying that it is the only factor completely ignores quality of human resources. I don't think it is difficult to find other places that are at strategic locations and yet still fail in development an impressive economy, let alone a half decent one. As far as I can tell, only massive amounts of oil can make up for weak human resources in enabling a small country to becoming wealthy. High quality human resource is most critical. What would happen to Singapore if they continue their massive immigration of low skill workers? Or rather, for thought experiment, if the entire population of Singaporeans were exchanged for a full replacement of said immigrant population, would it still be reasonable to expect the economic miracle to occur? I think not.

 

And massive amounts of oil are not sufficient. Look at Venezuela.