INDOOR LIVE-FIRING RANGE COMPLEX

Soldiers can now hone their shooting skills in the world s first such hi-tech multi-range complex.

Explosions, gunshots and screams can be heard as chaos ensues at the urban battlefield. The enemy is everywhere, hiding among the rubble and the frantic civilians. Soldiers swing into action, picking out the enemy targets while avoiding the innocent.

This is a scenario Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) soldiers could face in today's increasingly urbanised environment. To prepare soldiers, there is a need for realistic training to hone their ability to pick out hostile targets and their shooting accuracy. This is where the Multi-Mission Range Complex (MMRC) comes in.

Said Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen at the official launch held on 4 Oct: "We adapted the latest designs and best practices to our unique context, and the MMRC is a first-of-class in terms of scale and capabilities."

Training judgement

At the MMRC's 50m range which is equipped with the Video Targetry System (VTS), weapons loaded with live rounds are used. This brings realism to another level for soldiers as they progress from shooting simulation systems with replica weapons that fire laser beams.

The SAF's shooting simulators include the Individual Marksmanship Trainer (IMT) which is used for small arms training such as the Singapore Assault Rifle 21, and the Infantry Gunnery and Tactical Simulator (IGTS) which provides training for higher calibre weapons such as the General Purpose Machine Gun.

At the VTS range, soldiers can shoot both classes of weapons. And their targets are shown via video scenarios projected onto rubber screens.

The soldiers will assess the situation and take out the enemy without causing harm to innocents. Acoustic sensors are used to detect where the bullets hit. The scenarios will then develop accordingly depending on where the shots landed.

Role-played by actors and filmed on location, the video scenarios used are more realistic than the Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) used in the IMT and IGTS.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Jackson Wu, a branch head in Headquarters Infantry who also oversees the operations of the MMRC, said soldiers would soon have to go through a "pre-operation" shoot at the VTS range before taking on peacetime security operations.

He added: "Our soldiers have to operate in an increasingly complex environment which is highly urbanised, where enemies and civilians converge. They have to exercise the rules of engagement and decide whether to shoot or wait. Who to shoot, shoot to kill, or shoot to injure?"

Urban manoeuvres

At the Urban Ops Range, soldiers will hone their judgement in close-quarter shooting while manoeuvring. Operating in a section or group, they will take out enemy targets in a series of rooms.

Once a soldier enters a room, motion sensors activate the target boards to turn to face him, revealing whether they are friend or foe. This helps to sharpen the soldiers' reactions.

The layout of the rooms can be reconfigured and various layouts, simulating shop houses, offices and apartments, are available. This offers soldiers variety which is not possible at a traditional urban ops range.

First Sergeant (1SG) Zhuo Jian Shui, a section commander in 7th Singapore Infantry Brigade, said: "The old range has limited manoeuvring space and is fixed... But the new range allows you to develop situational awareness, and react to changing situations."

To train soldiers to operate in multi-storey buildings, the MMRC's multi-tier range allows soldiers to practise firing at targets at different levels. It resembles a conventional 100m range except it has two levels. The MMRC also houses two conventional ranges to enable soldiers to do their standard 100m combat shoot as well as familiarisation and zero-ing shoots.

These indoor shoots will complement outfield training. Soldiers can strengthen their shooting fundamentals in a controlled environment before they go for live firing in the field.

Better experience

In addition, soldiers no longer need to take on the work of scoring, detailing and safety. Nor will they have to wake up at 4am to draw ammunition. These roles are covered by defence contractors from Certis Cisco, freeing up troops to concentrate fully on their shooting practice.

They also need not wait for nightfall to commence their night shoots. The lighting in all MMRC ranges can be adjusted to simulate darkness.

A company-size unit would typically take two or three days to complete a marksmanship trainfire package at outdoor ranges, but at the MMRC, they can complete it within a day.

Said 2nd Lieutenant Reshi Shanmuganathan, a quartermaster in 6th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment, who led two platoons for a day and night shoot: "I only need to bring a nominal roll and come here with one officer and two specialists to coordinate the shoot... It s a very efficient and well-run range."

The indoor MMRC also allows shooting practices to be conducted in all weather, even in hazy conditions.

Closed Circuit TV cameras are installed in all ranges to provide live video feeds and recordings for projection screens and TV monitors in the AAR (After Action Review) rooms and the viewing galleries. These are then used by instructors in coaching and reviewing the shoots.

Efficient land use

The MMRC site used to be the home of the SAFTI 100m range. By stacking three storeys of ranges in one building, the same place now holds seven ranges. This has helped the SAF to overcome the problem of land scarcity in Singapore and, at the same time, meet its shooting demand which has risen by 250 percent, said LTC Wu.

In the past, NSmen need to only undergo live shoots two to three times throughout their NS cycle. But under the 3rd Generation Soldier Marksmanship Masterplan, which was implemented in 2008, most NSmen have to go for one live shoot annually to maintain their shooting proficiency.

There are currently 15 outdoor ranges in Singapore. Because of the MMRC, the SAF is now able to shut down five ranges next year, freeing up precious land.

The MMRC, developed jointly by the Army and Defence Science & Technology Agency, won the MINDEF Innovation Project Award at MINDEF Pride Day 2013.

Hit the mark

Multi-mission range complex

This three-storey building houses seven live-firing ranges that are aimed at improving soldiers shooting proficiency in terms of accuracy and target selection. It comprises both the standard marksmanship ranges (100m) and advanced ranges for multi-tier and urban shooting, and all the ranges can simulate day and night conditions.

1) Urban Ops
This range trains soldiers, working in Group or Section levels, to operate in urban environments where they will have to execute close-quarter engagements. The target boards, comprising both enemy and civilian figures, are activated by motion sensors. Teams are sent through a series of rooms that can be customised to suit the complexity of the training.

2) Multi-tier
Firing positions as well as enemy and civilian (stationary or moving) targets at upper and lower levels allow soldiers to practise firing downwards and upwards at targets - akin to firing at a multi-storey building.

3) Judgemental training
Conducted in 50m ranges, this training allows soldiers to shoot at scenario-based video targets, to exercise their ability to decide to shoot or not depending on whether the target is friend or foe. Video or computer-generated images are projected onto rubber screens designed with acoustic sensors to detect where the bullets hit. The video targetry system can also simulate distances up to 1km for machine gun or sniper rifle practices.

4) Combat shoot
This range allows soldiers to practise standard 100m shooting as well as the combat shoot (fire-and-movement) where they have to shoot and manoeuvre across simulated natural and man-made obstacles such as boulders and oil drums.

All walls, ceilings and floors are lined with ballistic materials to prevent backsplash and ricochet of bullets. Different ranges use different combinations of rubber panels, steel and concrete materials to absorb or shatter bullets upon impact.

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