ONGOING TRIALS TO ENHANCE URBAN AND MARITIME OPERATIONS

In an ever-changing landscape of security challenges, for quicker responses to a wide spectrum of security threats, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) uses technology as a force multiplier, arming personnel with cutting-edge equipment that helps them see further, understand better and react faster.

Much of the work in testing out new technology for the SAF is done at the SAF Centre for Military Experimentation (SCME), which experiments with new war-fighting concepts and future capabilities.

"In the past, most of the capabilities required by the SAF were purchased from defence industries. But as the SAF develops into the 3rd Generation force, we need to innovate and explore new fighting concepts on our own," said Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) Tay Chee Bin, Head SCME.

Since its inception in 2003, the SCME has conducted major experiments with the Services, centring on command and control concepts.

The experiments have helped to reap a better understanding of emerging ideas such as the use of visualisation technology to enhance situational awareness.

Two of the SCME's current experiments have to do with enhancing the Maritime Security Task Force (MSTF) and the Advanced Combat Man System (ACMS). These were featured when Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean visited the SCME on 27 Mar.

At the SCME, experiments to measure the effectiveness of the MSTF set-up and the quality of its decision-making are under way.

An experimental computer system known as the Information Broker is currently being tested by the MSTF.

"Currently, analysts have to manually search separate databases before sense-making is carried out, but the Information Broker is capable of fusing information from all sources including the World Wide Web," said Mr Yong Kai Chin, a developer of Information Fusion Technology at DSO National Laboratories.

"This expedites the information-gathering and sense-making process, allowing quicker detection of threats," he added.

Inaugurated earlier in January, the MSTF collates information from international and national maritime agencies to piece together a common operating picture. Coupled with its ability to mobilise assets from the SAF and the national agencies, the MSTF can marshal a swift and effective national response to potential maritime threats.

One of the elements of SCME is the Advanced Concept Centre (ACC), an enhancement of the previous Command Post of the Future (CPoF).

While the CPoF focused on experiments entirely on command and control designs, work flow and processes, the ACC evaluates and experiments new concepts in areas not limited to command and control.

In addition, the ACC examines decision-making processes. One example is the utilisation of Decision Range methodologies which evaluate the efficacy of decision-making. This tests the quality of decisions made by the MSTF.

Another feature of the SCME is the Battlelab, an enhanced 45-station simulation centre that can now be linked to the Army, Navy and Air Force simulation centres to carry out virtual experiments of future war-fighting concepts such as a task force set-up that musters the capabilities of different Services and agencies.

One of the experiments at the Battlelab involves building on the technology of the ACMS, a computerised system that gives soldiers an increased awareness of the battlefield.

To help evaluate soldiers' tactics, techniques and procedures when equipped with the ACMS, troops from 3rd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (3 SIR), Bravo Company are currently involved in the experiments at the Battlelab.

"In these experiments, seasoned soldiers use computer models of future weapons and employ future tactics to fight in a virtual battlefield," explained Colonel (COL) Ng Kok Wan, Chief Systems Integration Officer.

The Battlelab is also currently exploring how a Company command and control hub can improve the speed of decision-making in the battlefield, using information gathered by troops equipped with the ACMS.

"The Battlelab is a place where new concepts are borne through visualisation, and it will be a repository of knowledge about the future for the SAF," said COL Ng.

Other experiments at the SCME include the experimentation with new forms of surveillance systems for enhancing the work of the Island Defence Headquarters, and a project on advanced humanoid robotics with Nanyang Technological University.