MINDEF ENGAGES KEY STAKEHOLDERS AT SINGAPORE AIRSHOW

Senior Ministers of State for Defence Ong Ye Kung and Dr Mohamad Maliki bin Osman hosted 270 key stakeholders and their families at the Singapore Airshow 2016 on 21 Feb.

The visit was part of engagement efforts by the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF).

The group included members of the Advisory Council on Community Relations in Defence (ACCORD), the Government Parliamentary Committee for Defence and Foreign Affairs (GPC-DFA) and Resource Panel, as well as employers, educators, and grassroots leaders.

Together with Mr Ong and Dr Maliki, they watched aerial performances by air forces from around the world.

They also caught a glimpse of Singapore's defence capabilites. At the outdoor static display area, they got a close-up view of 11 RSAF assets, including the iconic Black Knight F-16C in national colours.

ACCORD member Subash Lazar said the airshow allowed Singaporeans, especially the younger generation, to gain a better understanding of the capabilities of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

"My son got a chance to get into the cockpit of the F-15. That was a defining moment for me because I never had an opportunity to go into a fighter plane. Kids today have more access to the military's state-of-the-art equipment. It is a good avenue to bring about awareness of what the SAF is doing," said the 44-year-old Vice-Principal of Crest Secondary School.

The group also toured the various indoor exhibits, which included homegrown defence company ST Engineering's latest defence products, such as the Terrex 2 Infantry Carrier Vehicle.

It is one of just two vehicles selected by the United States Marine Corps for an evaluation programme. The US military is looking to procure an amphibious assault vehicle.

Mr Amrin Amin, Deputy Chairman of GPC-DFA, felt that international defence exhibitions such as the airshow helped to instil confidence in the country's defence. "It showcases our military strength, and home-grown technologies," he said.

Mrs Grace Chong-Tan, Managing Director of Smile Inc Dental Surgeons, a local company that has consistently supported its NSmen employees in their In-camp Training, agreed: "The airshow is excellent. I am very proud of our strength, and our development in defence technologies. Whether it is air, land or sea, we have a very good defence force."