SINGAPORE: Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing made his first official visit to high-readiness units of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) on 27 May 2025.
The visit came just days after he was sworn in to his new role on 23 May.
Speaking to media during the visit, Chan stated that “every day of peace is a testimony that the SAF has done its job.”
He highlighted the importance of constant adaptation, saying the SAF is “not resting on its laurels” and is actively developing new capabilities.
Chan, who was formerly the Minister for Education, observed several exercises conducted by the Army, Navy, Air Force and Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) during his visit.
He was accompanied by Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad, Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo, Permanent Secretaries Chan Heng Kee and Melvyn Ong, Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral Aaron Beng, and senior officers from the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and SAF.
The Defence Minister began his tour by witnessing routine readiness training across various branches of the SAF.
Units from the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN), and the DIS conducted demonstrations showcasing preparedness for a range of scenarios.
Chan also attended the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) outfield helicopter deployment exercise, known as Exercise Rover. The exercise is taking place from 22 to 31 May.
Exercise Rover saw part of Sembawang Country Club’s golf course converted into a temporary deployment site for helicopters.
This allowed the RSAF to demonstrate capabilities in air defence, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
Two AH-64D Apache helicopters were launched in response to a simulated air defence threat during the exercise.
About 600 RSAF personnel, including 230 operationally ready national servicemen, participated.
Chan expressed confidence in the SAF’s evolution.
“As you know, we are in a changing world. There are new challenges, new disruptions caused by technology, new forces that we have to contend with,” he said.
He noted that some capabilities on display were concepts discussed years ago, now fully operationalised.
“Some of the capabilities are new and still being developed, and I have every confidence that the determination of the men and women serving in the SAF will, in time to come, operationalise many of these new capabilities.”
The Army Deployment Force (ADF) showcased its rapid response to peacetime contingencies such as terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and domestic security threats.
MINDEF said the ADF is equipped to carry out homeland security and disaster relief operations.
During a maritime demonstration, Chan observed how the RSN’s Maritime Security Task Force responded to a simulated terrorist threat originating from the sea. The exercise highlighted maritime defence readiness.
Chan also visited the DIS’s Joint Intelligence Command (JIC), where he received a briefing on its contributions to counter-terrorism and intelligence-led operations.
The new Defence Minister’s visit underlined his ongoing connection with the SAF, where he served from 1987 to 2011, culminating in his role as Chief of Army.
He left the military in 2011 to enter politics and has held various cabinet portfolios since then.
Following the 3 May general election and the announcement of the new Cabinet on 21 May by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Chan was appointed Defence Minister and Coordinating Minister for Public Services.
He succeeded Ng Eng Hen, who stepped down from politics after over 20 years of service.
Chan’s previous role as Education Minister has since been filled by Desmond Lee.
The new Cabinet also includes Deputy Prime Minister Gan Kim Yong and Coordinating Ministers K. Shanmugam and Ong Ye Kung as part of its core leadership team.
Chan’s remarks during the SAF visit reflected both his military background and his ministerial priorities.
“The very nice thing about this morning, from what I’ve seen, is that the SAF is not resting on its laurels. It constantly re-examines the way it operates,” he said.
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