Chapter 6
3G SAF
Quotes......
"By making possible a faster, clearer reading of the situation and a more effective distribution of
resources, a superior command system may serve as a force multiplier and compensate for
weaknesses in other fields..."
Martin van Creveld, 1985
"The purpose of fighting is to win. There is no possible victory in defense. The sword is more
important than the shield and skill is more important than either. The final weapon is the brain. All
else is supplemental." - John Steinbeck
Network – Centric Warfare
What is Network-Centric Warfare?
NCW may be described as an information
superiority-enabled concept of operations. It
generates increased combat power by networking
sensors, precision firepower, decision-makers,
and weapons technology to achieve shared
awareness, increased speed of command, higher
tempo of operations, greater lethality, increased
survivability, and self-synchronization.
In essence, the first sub –
revolution is that NCW translates
information superiority into combat
power by effectively linking
knowledgeable entities in the battle
space, quantity and quality of data
needed for global and precise
situational awareness.
Asymetric warfare, urban warfare, and the three-block war call for more
collaboration by sharing information and assets as part of an interoperable joint
and coalition force.
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The second sub-revolution is in the weapons technology. Better streams of targeting data can reduce
expensive guidance packages, while new designs, electronics, "lean" manufacturing, and mass production
can decrease the cost for a given level of accuracy and capability.
The third sub-revolution is in information technology. The
information revolution will dramatically increase the computing
power to process, collate, and analyze this vast quantity of sensor
data. The information revolution will also provide the means to
distribute information to any recipient at near real-time speeds.
In the coming decades, these three "subrevolutions", coupled with decreasing prices, will
interact and create a kaleidoscope of potential
synergies that may be embodied in network-centric
systems and transform the character of war.
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NCW Systems
NCW empowers war fighters and
commanders with a dramatically improved senseand-respond capability via a "system of systems".
With internet-like connectivity from the tactical
through strategic levels, force may be focused for
greatest effect.
Information will not only be obtained
from multiple sensors, human intelligence agents,
and databases, but data will also be merged from
sources that have never been linked before. More
importantly, data will be transformed into usable
information and rapidly distributed.
NCW offers substantial advantages in fighting large-scale conflicts over great distances with smaller,
more dispersed and mobile forces. They will be able to act effectively through accurate long-range fires and
near real-time information sharing. Shared awareness helps to heighten the pace of operations and
coordinate effects.
The capability to
strike effectively
without massing
forces creates
significant advantages for ships, aircraft, and ground troops.
Smaller, more agile forces also minimise casualty risks.
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NCW is characterized by information sharing, shared situational awareness and the knowledge of
commander's intent. A war fighting force that can conduct network-centric operations can be described as
having the following attributes and capabilities:
- Physical Domain: all elements of the force are
robustly networked achieving secure and seamless
connectivity.
- Information Domain: The force has the capability
to collect, share, access and protect information. The
force can collaborate in the information domain.
- Cognitive Domain: The force has the
capability to develop and share high quality
situational awareness and have a shared
knowledge of the commanders' intent.
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Activity........
Unscramble the words and fill in the correct blanks.
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1. This battle is normally fought using _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ weapons.
2. The concepts and methods of warfare have assumed more complex forms of the 19th and early-20th
century _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
3. Sensors with short-range _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ capabilities allows soldiers to look around corners or
into the next room.
4. Irregular warfare are conflicts in which a small group of _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ uses military tactics, like
ambushes and raids, to harass a larger and less-mobile traditional army.
5. NCW translates information _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ into combat power.
6. NCW empowers war fighters and _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with a dramatically improved sense-andrespond capability
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Activity........ ( ANSWERS )
Unscramble the words and fill in the correct blanks.
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1. This battle is normally fought using CONVENTIONAL weapons.
2. The concepts and methods of warfare have assumed more complex forms of the 19th and early-20th
century ANTECEDENTS .
3. Sensors with short-range SURVEILLANCE capabilities allows soldiers to look around corners or
into the next room.
4. Irregular warfare are conflicts in which a small group of COMBATANTS uses military tactics, like
ambushes and raids, to harass a larger and less-mobile traditional army.
5. NCW translates information SUPERIORITY into combat power.
6. NCW empowers war fighters and COMMANDERS with a dramatically improved sense-and-respond
capability
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Reflection Questions
Think about these reflective questions and try and develop a possible response to it:
Q1. The 3 key initiatives which the 3G SAF is focusing on are in the area of ‘Transformation,
Investing in the Future and People’. What do you think encompasses these focus areas?

Transformation
o The focus here is to embark on Singapore’s security for the future.
o Whilst maintaining operational readiness, SAF is also looking ahead and developing
capabilities to enable the SAF to stay ahead in the next decade and beyond.
o Revolution in Military Affairs (RMA) will change the way in which wars are fought.

The devastating effect of precision strike, for instance, was decisive.

In World War II it was estimated that it took 9,000 bombs brought out by waves
of bombers to ensure a successful strike against one strategic target such as a
command HQ or a key bridge.

In the Iraq war, just one aircraft flying a single sortie could destroy several such
strategic targets by dropping one or two precision-guided bombs with pin-point
accuracy on each such target.

This was possible due to superior information on the battlefield provided by
latest communications, network and sensor technologies.

Such technological possibilities will fundamentally change the nature of warfare
in the future.
o Armed Forces that can harness technology to make maximum use of these
transformational capabilities have the advantage in the battlefield of the future.
o In order to magnify the combat power of an Armed Force, they must be able to have
platforms (manned and unmanned), weapons and sensors that are fully networked.
o Tanks or ships or aircraft must operate as one integrated networked force.

Investing in the Future
o There is a need to invest in new concepts of operations and new technologies.
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o These concepts of operations and new technologies require extensive experimentation
and research and development.
o This will result in less demand for conventional platforms, and more demand for less
visible technologies like information systems, precision weapons, electronic warfare
systems, unmanned platform technologies, and a new type of soldier who is trained to
exploit these capabilities.
o This strategic effort will take time.
o MINDEF have set aside 1% of the defence budget for experimentation, over and above
the 4 to 5% set aside each year for research and development.
o There is a need to conduct experiments outside the laboratory, during exercises, to test
out new concepts under real-life conditions.
o The SAF needs to continue to modernise like the acquisition of the Next Generation
Fighter.
o The SAF must invest significantly in R&D locally through Defence Science and
Technology Agency, DSO National Laboratories, and Singapore Technologies
Engineering.

People - A Key Resource
o The SAF have well-educated soldiers who can easily master the technologically
sophisticated weapons and equipment.
o We also have a strong science and technology base, and a solid R&D set-up.
o The SAF must not be held back by numbers.
o Singapore’s small population must be a constraint on its ability to defend itself and to
deter would-be aggressors.
o It is through technological edge, and transformational capabilities that will help not
only neutralise the small population, but more than compensate for this.
Q2. One of the pitfalls of transforming the SAF into a 3G SAF is the health of soldiers. In your view
what areas of ‘health concern’ would you thinking of?

With the increasing reliance on technology and mechanisation, paired with the rapid
development of new weapon systems and equipment, there is a need to be weary of the
potential health pitfalls on operators of such new technology. In transforming the SAF into a
3rd force, the health of soldiers will continue to remain as a top priority for the organisation.
Here are some of the areas that must be taken note of:
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o Exposure to fumes from highly sophisticated military aircraft and equipment.
o Operating in a noisy environment like in the shooting ranges.
o Long hours sitting in front of a computer screen.
o Pay careful attention to occupational health issues from all Services and Vocations. This
is more so during Peace Support Operations and HADR where the absence of safe
sources of food and water, infrastructures and diseases like malaria, viral infection and
HIV will prevail.
o How to prevent injury to our precious resource, the people?
o How can we optimise the performance of our service personnel in using highly
technological equipment?
o Need to pay details to physical, mental and social well-being of our workforce.
o Poor ergonomics need to be anticipated and new systems carefully designed.
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