Getforme Singapore DEFENCE NEWS 2003, 2002, 2001

Three servicemen were each fined S$800 in the military court yesterday for making up documents to account for some 144 extra rifle slings that were not in its records in October 2002, ahead of an audit by the Defence Ministry. This cover-up and other discrepancies over individual fitness test scores resulted in the Singapore Armed Forces barring the unit from the Best Combat Unit Contest this year. The unit had won the top award a record 17 times since the contest started in 1969. (Straits Times 12 Sep 2003 H3)

A SAF regular serviceman collapsed after a 5km run and died in Changi General Hospital yesterday afternoon. Second Sergeant Rajagopal Thirukumaran, 25, a guardsman in the Third Guards Battalion, joined the SAF in 1999. (Straits Times 4 Sep 2003 H3)

Excerpt of letter by Col Bernard Toh, Director, Public Affairs, Ministry of Defence, to The Straits Times Forum of 4 Sep 2003

"...The jerry cans used by the Singapore Armed Forces to supply drinking water are designed for long-term use, unlike the common plastic mineral-water bottle. They are made of a highly durable plastic called high-density polyethylene and treated with an ultra-violet stabiliser which makes the plastic highly stable. Hence, jerry cans need to be replaced only when they are damaged.

"When not in use, all jerry cans are emptied fully and dripped dry before storage. before they are used, the jerry cans are flushed with water.

"The internal surfaces of the jerry cans are also given an anti-oxidant treatment which prevents fungal and bacterial growth.

"Hence the drinking water contained in these jerry cans is safe. There is therefore no need to clean by scrubbing.

"Water bottles issued to all soldiers are made of the same material as our jerry cans."

Col Bernard Toh

Director, Public Affairs

Ministry of Defence

A full-time NS sergeant collapsed during training at Pulau Tekong and died yesterday afternoon. Second Sergeant Hu En Huai, 19, was taken to Singapore General Hospital where he died at about 6.17pm. (Straits Times 22 Aug 2003 H3)

With only 18,503 babies born between January and June 2003, the number of births for 2003, estimated at about 37,000, is expected to be the lowest in 26 years. This figure is lower than the 38,364 recorded in 1977. Singapore needs at least 50,000 live births a year to sustain its economy, defence and other manpower needs. (Straits Times 20 Aug 2003 1)

The Maritime and Port Authority (MPA) said yesterday that after a three-month investigation into the collision of the RSS Courageous, it has found the collision was caused by "errors of judgement" committed by Lieutenant NG Keng Yong, 27, when he approved changes - by junior officer, Lieutenant CHUA Chue Teng, 23 - that steered the vessel into the path of the ANL Indonesia. Lieutenant CHUA was into her fourth month of training as officer of the watch. The crew of the ANL Indonesia did everything by the book when it changed course to avoid a collision but the many wrong turns by RSS Courageous resulted in both vessels heading towards each other. Straits Times 5 Apr 2003)(1)

The National Day Parade's Web site, www.ndp.org.sg, was launched yesterday. This year's parade will take place at the National Stadium and feature a more spectacular light show, with the introduction of a giant, high-end projector. (Straits Times 3 Apr 2003)(H2)

The new Chief of Defence Force is Major-General NG Yat Chung, 41. Yesterday, he took over from Lieutenant-General LIM Chuan Poh, 41, who will join the Administrative service after attending Harvard University's Advanced management Programme. (Straits Times 29 Mar 2003)(H3)

The latest civil defence emergency handbook is being distributed free to over one million households here. It is a joint project by the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), the National Fire Prevention Council and the Civil Defence executive committees. (Straits Times Sunday 23 Feb 2003)(25)

Singapore has become the first Asian country to join the biggest warplane programme in history, to develop the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter with the United States and at least eight other countries. The fighter jet uses stealth technology to prevent detection by radar or infra-red sensors. The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) has 140 planes in two A-4 squadrons, five F-5 squadrons and two F-16 squadrons. (Straits Times Sunday 23 Feb 2003)(1)

There has been a spate of intrusions by Malaysian government vessels into Singapore's waters around Pedra Branca, with five violations by its navy and marine police last week alone. Malaysia's actions were disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tony TAN in Parliament yesterday. (Straits Times 21 Jan 2003)(3)

The container ship which collided with the Singapore Navy's RSS Courageous on 3 Jan 2003 was spotted on the patrol craft's radar, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tony TAN revealed in Parliament yesterday. The Navy crew on duty had also sighted the ANL Indonesia visually. (Straits Times 21 Jan 2003)(1)

There was no sign of missing servicewoman Second Sergeant CHUA Bee Lin's body in the shorn-off portion of the RSS Courageous which was hauled up from the sea on Tuesday night and towed back to Changi Naval Base yesterday.(Straits Times 16 Jan 2003)(1)

The search for missing navy servicewoman Chua Bee Lin was called off by the Ministry of Defence yesterday, after 10 days of round-the-clock efforts on land and at sea proved fruitless. (Straits Times 14 Jan 2003) (1)

The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) commemorated ten years of successful training under the Peace Carvin II (PC II) programme in Arizona, United States of America today. The RSAF first inaugurated its F-16 operations in PC II on 30 Dec 92, with F-16A/Bs leased from the USAF. The detachment now operates its own F-16C/Ds and has flown a total of 30,000 hours since 1992 and participated in more than 20 major exercises with the USAF. (Mindef News Release 8 Jan 2003)

A woman naval specialist's body has been recovered and three others are missing after a collision between the 460-tonne RSS Courageous, a anti-submarine patrol ship, and 52,000-tonne Dutch-registered ANL Indonesia, a container vessel. The accident, the worst single accident in the Republic of Singapore Navy's (RSN) history, happened late on Friday night in Singapore waters just 1.5km north of Pedra Blanca. The three missing crew are women specialists in weapons and communications. Eight male full-time navy personnel were injured slightly in the collision. (Straits Times 5 Jan 2003)(1)

     2002

From April 2003, operationally ready national servicemen will be allowed to take their annual fitness tests as many times as they wish within a year instead of being limited to two tries within a two-month window. This means those who fail the IPPT will get more time and chances to try for a pass before they are sent for remedial training. (Straits Times 17 Dec 2002) (H6)

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) held its first open mobilisation exercise between 2pm and 8pm yesterday. (Straits Times 16 Dec 2002) (H6)

The first of a six-ship fleet of the Singapore navy's new class of stealth warships is expected to be delivered in 2005, and all of them will be fully operational by 2009, when they will replace the navy's six missile gunboats which have been in service for over 25 years. (Straits Times 15 Nov 2002) (H4)

The army moved in to protect Jurong Island - home to petrochemical businesses - last week to allow the police force to focus their efforts elsewhere in Singapore. Soldiers were last deployed there in October 2001 for two months. (Straits Times 6 Nov 2002) (1)

13 aircraft from the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) will practise road landings along Lim Chu Kang Road on 7 & 11 Nov 2002. The stretch of road being used is located between Ama Keng Road and Old Lim Chu Kang Road. (Straits Times 28 Oct 2002) (H5)

Army Open House 2002

14 - 15 Sep 2002

SAFTI Military Institute

A task force has been set up to work in secrecy to assess threats to national security and deal with any crisis speedily. Called the National Security Task Force, it comprises members from two key security agencies: the Home Affairs Ministry (MHA) and te Ministry of Defence (Mindef). (Straits Times 19 Sep 2002) (4)

Fighter aircraft will take off from Changi when the Republic of Singapore Air Force's (RSAF) new facilities, being built on about 200 ha of reclaimed land east of Changi Airport, are completed in 2004.The RSAF now has fighter planes at the Tengah and Paya Lebar airbases. The Changi East site will be the third site to house these aircraft. A fourth airbase, in Sembawang, is used mainly for helicopter operations. (Straits Times 16 July 2002)(H5)

The Republic of Singapore Navy has successfully test-fired the Barak anti-missile defence system in an exercise in the South China Sea. It was tried out by a corvette, the RSS Valiant, the Defence Ministry said yesterday. (Straits Times 11 Jul 2002) (H7)

Almost S$900 million has been spent building 88,000 civil defence shelters in Housing Board flats and private homes since 1997. Such shelters have been a requirement in all new residential developments since the Civil Defence Shelter Bill was passed in 1997, to make shelters more accessible in emergencies. A household shelter ranges in size from 2 to 5 sq m, depending on flat size. The demand for HDB flats, on average, is 15,000 to 20,000 units a year and it would cost up to S$200 million a year to equip these flats with shelters. (STraits Times 3 Jul 2002) (H2)

In an interview on Safra Radio to mark SAF Day yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Dr Tony TAN said that the SAF is a formidable force now with 50,000 full-time personnel at any time and a call-up number of another 300,000 operationally ready NSmen when needed. (Straits Times 2 Jul 2002) (H7)

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) F-16C fighter aircraft crashed yesterday during a training flight near the Luke Air Force Base in Arizona in the United States. A statement from the Defence Ministry (Mindef) said that the plane was being flown by a United States Air Force pilot. (Straits Times 31 May 2002) (6)

A national serviceman who collapsed on Tuesday after completing a 2.4km run he had to do as part of his fitness test has died. Lcp (NS) Mohamed Shahlan Abdul Rahim, 32, had reported to Clementi Camp for a week-long training stint the day before his collapse. (Straits Times 17 May 2002) (H13)

Across-the-board hikes in monthly allowances for national servicemen will take effect from 1 July 2002 to mark the 35th anniversary of National Service. A recruit will take home S$350 instead of S$240, and a corporal in a combat job will get S$520 instead of S$330. A third sergeant will get S$660 instead of S$420 and a second lieutenant S$970 instead of S$650. The increases will benefit all full-time national servicemen (NSFs) and operationally-ready national servicemen (NSmen) in the Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore Police Force and Singapore Civil Defence Force. (Straits Times 17 May 2002) (1)

Four Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) personnel were hospitalised in Taiwan yesterday after the truck they were travelling in overturned on a remote country road of Chishan, a town in Kaohsiung county. According to the Defence Ministry here, there were 23 servicemen on board the vehicle at the time of the accident. The other 19 were either unhurt or received outpatient treatment. (Straits Times 13 May 2002) (5)

Singapore is interested in bringing home its Apache attack helicopters equipped with Longbow radar in 2006 - two years earlier than planned - and senior Pentagon officials in the United States reportedly support the move in light of the Sept 11 events. Singapore has placed two separate orders for Apache helicopters and has sought a total of 20 machines. The contract stipulated that the fire-control radar provided for eight AH-64D Apaches would not be brought into Singapore before 2008. (Straits Times 20 Mar 2002) (1)

The Republic of Singapore navy now has two submarines here, with the arrival of the RSS Chieftain at Tuas Naval Base. One of four acquired by the RSN, it will join the RSS Conqueror, uner the 171 Squadron. The RSS Conqueror arrived in May 2000. The 51-m long RSS Chieftain was designed by Swedish company Kockums. It has a crew of 28. (Straits Times 7 Mar 2002) (H7)

DefenseNews.com, an American online magazine, said on Monday that Singapore would replace its A-4SU Super Skyhawks over the next three to six years. (Straits Times 17 Jan 2002)(H2)

    2001

A full-time national serviceman from the 1st Commando Battalion died yesterday after collapsing during training. Corporal KWOK Wei Ming died at noon in Hendon Camp in Changi. (Straits Times 30 Oct 2001)(H9)

A Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) trainee pilot was forced to eject from his trainer jet during a routine flight in Western Australia yesterday afternoon, after the plane encountered problems. In a statement yesterday, the Ministry of Defence said the pilot was safe. It also said no one else was hurt in the incident. The aircraft, a Marchetti S-211, crashed into an open area within the airfield perimeter. Mindef is investigating the crash. (Straits Times 3 Oct 2001)(H9)

    Singapore and Malaysia yesterday reached a skeletal agreement to resolve outstanding issues which have plagued bilateral relations since the early 1990s. It came after tough negotiations between Senior Minister LEE Kuan Yew and Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad at the new administrative capital Putrajaya in Malaysia yesterday. Mr LEE stressed that the agreement was based on reciprocity. Singapore has agreed to various requests from Malaysia: from relocating its railway station from Tanjong Pagar to Kranji, not Woodlands, to building an underground railway tunnel from Johor to Kranji, and demolishing the Causeway for a new bridge. In return, Singapore's long-term water supply and the use of Malaysian airspace by the Singapore Air Force are secured. (Straits Times 5 Sep 2001) (1)

A dozen Apache helicopters will soon be added to the eight already flown by the Singapore Armed Forces. The Ministry of Defence signed an agreement on Monday with the US government to buy the attack helicopters. The helicopters are the latest "D" version, and feature the Longbow radar system which controls its weaponry. They will be delivered from 2005, but will remain in the US, where Singapore pilots and support crew are now training on an earlier purchase of Apache helicopters. (Straits Times 24 Aug 2001)(H2)

A naval cadet officer was killed on Sunday afternoon in a traffic accident. Mr WONG Pun Yew, 21, who had won a navy scholarship a few months ago, was travelling along Victoria Street towards Kallang when his motorcycle smashed into an oncoming car at the Jalan Sultan junction. He was taken to Tan Tock Seng Hospital but died at 5.45pm. (Straits Times 21 Aug 2001)(1)

Good performers in full-time national service will get points for entry into the National University of Singapore (NUS) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). The two universities yesterday said they have accepted a recommendation made by an advisory committee which called for leadership and performance during NS to be recognised for university admission. The points will be added to those earned for co-curricular activities (CCA) in junior college, centralised institute or polytechnic.(Straits Times 7 Aug 2001)(1)

Singapore is considering buying a dozen Apache attack helicopters worth US$617 million (S$1.1 billion), according to the United States Defence Department. The US COngress was notified of the possible second sale on Tuesday by the Defence Security Co-operation Agency - the Pentagon office that handles foreign military sales. If the deal goes through, it will be the second order for Apaches by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF). The first order of eight helicopters was announced in March 1999. (The Straits Times 12 Jul 2001) (6)

Lieutenant-General LIM Chuan Poh, 39, became the youngest Chief of Defence Force in the history of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to get his third star yesterday. in the history of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to get his third star yesterday. in the history of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to get his third star yesterday. (Straits Times 30 Jun 2001)

A 24-year-old full-time national serviceman with no history of serious medical problems died mysteriously on Sunday night, two days after being admitted to the National University Hospital (NUH) complaining of pain in his knee. Mr CHUA Ya Ta had complained of pain in his right knee after taking part in a friendly game of tug-of-war in his camp. (Straits Times 19 Jun 2001)

Singapore's fourth submarine RSS Chieftain was launched in Sweden on Tuesday 22 May 2001 as part of the Republic's efforts to build a modern and balanced navy. RSS Chieftain will arrive here at the end of the year to join RSS Conqueror. The other two submarines, RSS Challenger and RSS Centurion, will remain in Sweden and will be used for training purposes. (Straits Times 24 May 2001)

A national serviceman stalked five little girls and a maid, molesting them in lifts or on the staircase landing of their blocks in Chua Chu Kang between 1 Nov 2000 and 5 Jan 2001. On Thursday 26 Apr 2001, CHUA Choon Hock, 18, was sentenced to six years' jail and 15 strokes of the cane after he pleaded guilty to three counts of molest. Three similar charges were taken into consideration. (Straits Times 28 Apr 2001)

National servicemen (NSmen) will find it easier to travel abroad for work or leisure when exit control measures are relaxed from Tuesday 1 May 2001. These changes will apply to NSmen in the armed forces, the police and the civil defence force. Among the notable changes is the waiver of a monetary bond for youths who have yet to serve NS but have to accompany their parents abroad on overseas employment. NSFs can also get passports with a validity of 10 years instead of nine months. (Straits Times 27 Apr 2001)

Commenced on 9 Jul 2001

ABOUT THIS WEB SITE | ADVERTISING WITH US | LISTING WITH US

ePartners | Press | eMail Us | Permissions | Content Contributors