Singapore's soldiers will now spend a lot more time sharpening their marksmanship at the Republic's latest indoor firing range that went fully-operational on Friday.
The new Multi-Mission Range Complex will help combat troops to increase their markmanship training by up to 60 per cent.
This is because the three-storey marksmanship training centre allows more soldiers to hone their skills within a shorter time. With the new complex, 900 soldiers can complete their shooting tests within a day. Previously, they would take two or three days.
The complex is also the world's first marksmanship training centre to house seven different firing ranges that can simulate both day and night shooting environment. Soldiers will be put through scenarios that hone their instincts and ability to judge if they are shooting a friend or foe.
Besides 50m and 100m-long ranges, soldiers will now also practise picking out targets in a "cluttered city". The indoor ranges also keep soldiers dry, preventing the delays that used to be caused by bad weather.
Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen declared the marksmanship training centre operational on Friday, six months after it first opened. Already, 22,000 soldiers have used the facilities.
Dr Ng said the centre allows the SAF to "do more in training and to test our soldiers' shooting proficiency, but yet utilises much less space than before". The 3ha building will free up 22ha of land that is currently occupied by the SAF's five outdoor firing ranges for other uses.