SAF announces plans to tap tech, consolidate BMT

Drones that can home in and catch errant drones are one of the features of smart airbases of the future.

This is one of the new technologies the Singapore Armed Forces has invested in to overcome its constraints, such as the manpower crunch due to a shrinking pool of full-time national servicemen (NSFs).

Other innovations include an unmanned watch tower with low-light cameras and video analytics technology to automatically detect threats from the coastlines such as swimmers. Meanwhile, the navy is testing unmanned surface vessels that can perform coastal patrols, and mine detection and disposal.

Also, since November, almost all combat-fit NSFs have been doing their Basic Military Training on Pulau Tekong together. Previously, some did BMT at the camps of combat units, such as those from Guards or armour formations.

The announcements were made during the Defence Ministry's budget debate yesterday.