Dr Maliki Osman, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Defence,

Chief of Defence Force,

Chief of Army,

Chief Infantry Officer,

Commanders and men of 2nd Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment,

Good afternoon.

Let me extend my warmest congratulations to the Army and the Infantry on the establishment of our first motorised infantry battalion.

I must say that I am very impressed. I visited about two years ago. I think over the two years, the progress has been tremendous as we ironed out the concept of operations, our doctrine, the way we execute it, by integrating the various elements, both platform and our network.

Today's exercise and parade therefore marks a major milestone in the transformation of our Infantry into a key component of the 3rd Generation networked SAF. The strength of this 3rd Generation SAF lies not just in its individual pieces of hardware, but in our ability to bring it together into a network of array of systems and capabilities. The Terrex Infantry Carrier Vehicle which I arrived in will therefore join the Army's other mechanised platforms from the Armour, Artillery and Engineer formations that ride on this common network. Such a network allows the SAF to create an overall fighting system that is both flexible as well as responsive to the complex demands of the modern battlefield.

It has demonstrated clearly how individual soldiers, in the section all the way up to the platoon, battalion, brigade and division, are now able to sense and communicate seamlessly both within and with other components of the SAF while on the move. The Army's motorised infantry battalion can now function at a higher tempo and at longer ranges, covering a wider area of operations. Specifically, the Terrex enhances the Army's capabilities in intelligence gathering of the battlefield as well as precision manoeuvre and firepower.

The enhanced capabilities of the Terrex will enable the Infantry to engage the adversary decisively. At the basic level, at the soldiers' level, we have seen what our men are capable of doing. The Terrex, with the enhanced firepower, mobility and protection accords our Infantry unit, the speed and initiative in the battle, as you have demonstrated clearly in this exercise. At the integrated level, the Terrex is fitted with the Battlefield Management System, which serves as a communications node that interfaces with other SAF assets such as the Leopard tanks, artillery, attack helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles. With these resources and networks on call, the impact of an individual infantry unit, the impact of each soldier is multiplied many times as it allows every soldier to coordinate manoeuvres, to activate the firepower of the SAF at his disposal, and enables the soldier to operate as part of a more integrated and capable combat fighting system.

2 SIR took delivery of the Terrex in July last year. In that period of less than a year, the Infantry Formation and the commanders and men of 2 SIR have operationalised this new capability. This is a significant achievement in meeting a demanding timeline, while testing and establishing new fighting concepts and tactics. The commanders and men of 2 SIR deserve recognition for their hard work and commitment in fulfilling their mission.

The rapid attainment of Full Operational Capability of the Terrex in 2 SIR further strengthens the 3rd Generation SAF. Even as we leverage off platforms and technology, we remind ourselves that battles can never be won by sophisticated weaponry alone, but will always depend on the resolve of our soldiers and their courage and ability to adapt quickly to changing situations.

The 3rd Generation SAF brings to bear the strengths of our human capabilities, which is our prime asset in Singapore. At this juncture, it is appropriate to commend the Army planners and defence engineers from the Defence Science Technology Agency (DSTA) for their success in pushing boundaries to develop the Terrex. The team brought operational and technological expertise from the Army, DSTA and our defence industry partners - in this case, particularly ST Engineering - to develop a sophisticated fighting platform that meets the Army's specific requirements. And they did this in a relatively short time from concept to full roll-out. I think that is a significant feat which warrants our recognition and admiration. They have ensured that our soldiers are equipped with the best that defence technology has to offer.

The Army has come a long way since our first Infantry battalion was established some 54 years ago. Yet the fundamental mission of the Infantry - to overcome the opposing force by means of fire and manoeuvre - remains unchanged. As pioneers of the first motorised infantry battalion, you in 2 SIR have a heavy responsibility in ensuring that the Infantry continues to play its critical role in keeping Singapore safe and secure.

Allow me therefore to congratulate you on a job well done, and to the Full-Time National Servicemen of 2 SIR, I trust you will retain your fighting spirit as Operationally Ready NSmen in serving and protecting our nation.

Thank you very much.