THE JOURNEY TO REALISING THE 3RD GEN RSN

Transformation has been a key focus for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) in order for it to keep abreast of evolving maritime threats. And while the Navy's transformation has accelerated in the last five years, the process is not complete.

"To complete what is essentially the 3rd Generation RSN, it will take us another five to 10 years going forward," shared Chief of Navy, Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong.

In an interview on 18 May, held ahead of the Navy Open House 2010, RADM Chew briefed the media on the Navy's state of development, and gave what he termed as a "stock-take" of the Navy's achievements.

The RSN has built a "balanced portfolio of capabilities" to meet demands arising from a wide range of operations, said RADM Chew. The capabilities in this portfolio - the frigates, naval helicopters, submarines, missile corvettes and mine countermeasure vessels - are continually tested through participation in bilateral and multilateral exercises.

In terms of the Navy's range of operations, this includes counter-piracy operations in the Gulf of Aden as well as responding to maritime threats in this region. The creation of the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) last year was ranked by RADM Chew as the biggest piece of the RSN's transformation.

On the significance of the MSTF, which brings together key national maritime agencies such as the RSN, Police Coast Guard, the Maritime Port Authority, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and the Singapore Customs, RADM Chew said: "We foster habits of interoperability...so that if a particular maritime security threat appears in the region, we will have the capacity to deal with them and take coordinated responses."

As the Navy goes in full steam towards completing its 3rd Generation transformation, RADM Chew listed three areas of focus.

Firstly, the RSN will work towards achieving a more synchronised, whole-of-government approach in dealing with maritime security. The housing of the Singapore Maritime Security Centre within the Changi Command and Control (C2) Centre demonstrates the way forward in driving coordination to deal with maritime security threats.

"We will also continue to leverage on the linkages we have with our regional partners, as well as with partners which have a very strong stake in the region...Ultimately, we want to build a more synchronised, sustainable maritime security system."

Secondly, the Navy will continue to operationalise its capabilities well. In this aspect, RADM Chew mentioned that the missile corvettes are currently being upgraded with enhanced surveillance and C4 (Command, Control, Communications and Computers) capabilities. This will enable them to "plug into the larger fighting system of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) together with the frigates".

He added that for the mine countermeasure vessels, the Navy is testing the deployment of unmanned technologies in dealing with mine threats.

"We want to bring our capabilities forward in a holistic way...making sure that we have put in place the operational doctrine, the logistics support system, the training as well as the necessary human capital. Basically, we want to build sustained performance."

Lastly, RADM Chew is looking to assimilate and develop good people and good leaders within the Navy, so as to provide a "fundamental enabler for a strong and robust 3rd Generation RSN".

He elaborated: "We have to continue to bring in the best of each cohort and make sure that our training system is able to give them the necessary skill sets and expertise."

This is so that the people are able to "step forward with a strong sense of shared mission, and have very clear commitment to the mission and the purpose of the Navy, as well as of the larger RSN".

"We need to share with them the purpose of their mission and make sure they understand the meaning of the work they do, and the kind of contributions they will eventually make by serving in the Navy," he told cyberpioneer.

Concluding his interview, RADM Chew drew inspiration from what was once said by one of Singapore's founding father of defence, the late Dr Goh Keng Swee.

"In the words of Dr Goh, people and officers in the SAF must have steel in their souls in order to rise to the occasion in the face of adversity and be able to take challenges head on."

"Going forward, this is an evergreen mindset that we have to continue to imbue in our people," he added.