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The Singapore Army's mission is to deter attacks against the national territory. As technology evolves over time and finds new applications in the military, the Army must constantly keep abreast of these changes. We must also explore and adapt such technologies for use in our Order of Battle (Orbat), where they are relevant and cost-effective. In this manner, the Army can stay ahead of changes in the modern battlefield and fulfil its mission.
The Singapore Army's Operational Orbat consists of three Combined Arms Divisions (CADs), two People's Defence Force (PDF) commands, and some non-divisional units which are under the direct command of the Chief of Army (CoA). In addition, there are two Army Operational Reserves (AOR) divisions to administer our national servicemen after they have completed their 13-year training cycle.
Each Combined Arms Division is organised into integral combined arms forces, comprising the primary combat elements of the infantry and armour, together with the combat support elements of the artillery, combat engineers, air defence and signals, and the combat service support elements. The two PDF Commands, as the name suggests, are organised primarily for the purpose of home defence and the protection of key installations.
Guiding Factors
There are two main factors, viz manpower and training areas, which shape Singapore Army's capital acquisition programmes. These factors make it all the more important to leverage on and optimise our national resources for our defence acquisition programmes.
Manpower
Being a country with a small population base, we will consequently have a finite amount of engineering and scientific resources. Also, the SAF does not have the manpower nor the resources to organise and maintain a large standing Army. Our Orbat, therefore, comprises mainly national servicemen (NSmen for short), who...