SAF FORMS C4I COMMUNITY TO SHARPEN INFORMATION EDGE

The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) inaugurated the Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) community, which will focus on developing professional skills, with a parade held at Pasir Laba Camp on 2 Apr. The community brings together all the C4 network and intelligence elements which have, till now, existed separately across the Services.

Explaining the move, Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen said in his speech at the parade: "While this structure (of separated C4I elements) has served us adequately, the complexity of the modern battlefield will place more exacting and challenging demands on the 3rd Generation SAF. Our land, maritime and air forces need to seamlessly tap on each other's capabilities and further reduce the sense-to-strike cycle."

While acquisitions such as the F-15SG fighter aircraft, Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle and frigate enable the SAF to deal with threats across air, land and sea, networking these systems gives the SAF an added edge on the modern battlefield.

"The result is a potent SAF that is more flexible, adaptable and more responsive to the demands of the modern battlefield," said Dr Ng of improving SAF's networks.

Under the ambit of the new C4I community are Image Analysts, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Operators, Communications Operators and Naval Intelligence Analysts and various other vocations.

The C4I community will focus on developing professional skills in its people by building expertise and knowledge. "The immediate priority is to take care of the people and work on human capital development, to train them and create opportunities for them." said Rear-Admiral (RADM) Joseph Leong, who helms the community as Chief C4I.

When asked how the new community will likely impact ground troops, Military Expert 3 Ramesh Krishnan, Senior Imagery Analyst of the SAF's Imagery Support Group said: "What we are going to see is that information flows much faster. Ultimately, the end-users - ground commanders, troops and even senior commanders - will get information faster, understand it better and act upon the information quicker."

He was deployed to Afghanistan from July to October last year as part of an Imagery Analysis Team to enhance the multinational International Security Assistance Force's surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Also present at the parade were Minster of State for Defence and Education Lawrence Wong, Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Neo Kian Hong, Service Chiefs and senior SAF officers.