SAF ON TARGET FOR FIRST LIVE INTEGRATED STRIKE

Intelligence has been received on 'hostile' forces that have been lured into the engagement area. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) circle overhead to provide situational updates while F-16s swoop in for their strike operations.

With a mighty whoosh, Hellfire missiles are unleashed by the AH-64D Apache attack helicopters.

They score a precise hit on the 'enemy's' armoured vehicles, thanks to accurate information provided by the Commandos through datalink.

The missile strike is closely followed by rocket and gunfire by the Apaches from a closer range, before the remainder of the 'enemy' forces are taken out by the Artillery.

This live weapon delivery demonstration encapsulated the integrated capabilities of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and was a fitting finale for Exercise Forging Sabre, a 12-day unilateral exercise held in the Mojave Desert in California.

Eye on the future: Dr Ng views the exercise with Exercise Director (Air) COL Sarbjit Singh and Exercise Director COL Philip Lim.

Minister for Manpower and Second Minister for Defence, Dr Ng Eng Hen, was there to observe the live-fire exercise and he was "immensely satisfied" with what he saw.

"It gives us great confidence, when you have complex technology that you can integrate together, and it gives the SAF great confidence in knowing that it works, and we are reaching a high standard," said Dr Ng.

"When we embarked on this journey of the 3G SAF, one of the fundamental aspects was to use superior platforms, superior technology to multiply our effects."

"You need exercises like this to convince yourself that you can put the various platforms, the various technologies together."

"All in all, I think this particular exercise was successful in meeting our objectives," he said.

An Apache helicopter pilot introduces Dr Ng to one of the Republic of Singapore Air Force's newest addition.

Exercise Forging Sabre showcased slices of the three core capabilities of the 3G SAF precision strike, unmanned warfare, and integrated knowledge command and control.

It was conducted at the US Marines Air Ground Task Force Training Centre (MAGTFTC) at 29 Palms, and involved more than 300 SAF personnel.

The exercise effectively demonstrated the operational benefits of closely networked and highly responsive sensor-shooter linkages across various air and ground-based SAF platforms.

Looking into the future after this successful exercise, Dr Ng said the journey towards the 3G SAF was far from complete.

"We have to constantly build our capabilities. We are taking a slice and showing that this can work. But this has to be expanded across the whole SAF," he said.

"So there's a lot of work to be done, but this tells us that we are on the right track, and we are making good progress."

After watching the exercise, Dr Ng met SAF servicemen who participated in the exercise.

They included personnel from the three Republic of Singapore Air Force detachments based in the United States, as well as personnel from the UAV squadron and Commando and Artillery formations deployed from Singapore.

Co-ordinated approach: The Apache helicopters and the Artillery forces worked together to take out the 'enemy' forces.

More than 300 SAF servicemen, including these Commandos, are involved in the exercise held at the US Marines Air Ground Task Force Training Centre (MAGTFTC).

After viewing the exercise, Dr Ng said there is more work to be done, but the SAF is "on the right track", and is making good progress. Dr Ng also met up with servicemen to congratulate them on a job well done.

>> Visit the Ex Forging Sabre website for more information