SINGAPORE - Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen fired weapons like the Electric Stun Gun - the "less lethal weapons" used by the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to support overseas peace operations, during a visit on Friday to the Lim Chu Kang live-firing area.

Dr Ng, who was there to see the SAF Guards formation demonstrate their operational capabilities, also tried out the Multiple Grenade Launcher loaded with foam projectile rounds, also used in peace operations.

Chief Guards Officer, Brigadier-General Melvyn Ong, said: "Our people have done well and learnt a great deal from these operations. This has allowed us to strengthen the SAF's capabilities in peace support operations, which has enabled Singapore to contribute as a responsible member of the international community."

Over the years, SAF personnel including servicemen from the Guards formation have taken part in more than 20 peacetime missions.

These include the United Nations Peace Keeping Operations in Timor Leste from 1999 to 2003, the Boxing Day tsunami relief operation in Indonesia in 2004, the Christchurch earthquake relief operation in New Zealand in 2011 as well as reconstruction efforts in Afghanistan from 2007 to 2013.

During his visit, Dr Ng also witnessed a demonstration of the SAF's drill to counter a vehicular ambush. He also viewed a static display of equipment used in peace operations, such as the Mobile Field Kitchen and Water Purification Unit and interacted with Guardsmen who participated in past SAF overseas deployments.