(Caption of photo above) A military parade demonstrates the discipline and cohesion in a modern military force. It shows how different individuals can come together and function as one. In this challenging year, we hope that we can inspire everyone to come together, and march forward as one united Singapore.
Sweat pouring down their backs, heavy breathing behind masks, our sailors remain spirited and determined as they practice their drills over and over again under the scorching sun at the Padang. Rehearsals for the Parade and Ceremony are never easy, and are even more demanding when you are in the Guard of Honour contingent.
Even with masks on, our sailors stand tall looking smart in their white uniforms, displaying the pride, discipline, and resilience of the SAF, especially during this challenging year.
Over at the rehearsal site of the Mobile Column, another group of sailors work tirelessly to ensure our naval assets are ready to be brought to the heartlands. Setting off from the camps in the wee hours of the morning, and only returning late at night, they remain focused on the task at hand to ensure that everything can be executed smoothly and safely. This is even more pertinent now with fewer rehearsals because of the unprecedented COVID-19 situation.
As part of the NDP 2020 contingent, our Team Navy has been working hard behind the scenes for weeks to bring a slice of the navy closer to you at home on National Day (at least the smaller assets that can fit on the roads). Show your support for them this NDP by catching them through live broadcast over TV, and make sure you keep an eye out for the big assets in the Maritime Sailpast!
Let us continue to stand together, stronger than before. We got you, Singapore!
The Protector Unmanned Surface Vessel (USV) is one of our "smartest" vessels. It is designed to be remotely controlled, which reduces the risk posed to our personnel when dealing with potential adversaries. The USV can conduct a wide spectrum of missions including maritime surveillance, helping to keep our seas safe so that the things we need can still continue to come to Singapore by the sea.
Beyond defending just our waters, it is crucial for the navy to go beyond Singapore to protect and secure Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs) as well. SLOCs are the maritime highways which goods travel on between countries, and if these SLOCs are closed off anywhere because of maritime threats, Singapore will be affected as well. That is why vessels like our Formidable-class Frigates and Victory-class Missile Corvettes go beyond our waters to conduct missions far away from home. And to deal with surface threats effectively, they are fitted with the Harpoon anti-ship missile system. Once fired, the missile automatically steers itself in mid-air and homes in on the target to destroy it.
Submarines are a great strategic asset because its stealth allows it to destroy adversary vessels without being detected. This means that a disproportionate amount of resources and vessels have to be deployed to search and hunt for one submarine. Equipped with the TP 617 Heavyweight Torpedo (HWT), our Archer-class and Challenger-class submarines can destroy or disable almost any surface targets, making it truly Invincible and Invisible.
