Minister for Defence Award (MDA)

The MDA is presented to a unit or department in the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) for their outstanding achievements in the four components of productivity and innovation, organisational excellence, resource optimisation and staff well-being. There are two tiers to the MDA – the Division/Command and Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level.

This year, three units will be awarded the MDA. The Air Power Generation Command (APGC) of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and the Maintenance and Engineering Support (MES) Formation of the Singapore Army have been awarded the MDA at the Division/Command level and Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level respectively, both for the second consecutive year, while the Transport Group (TG) – Air Combat Command (ACC) of the RSAF has been awarded the MDA at Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level for the first time.

1. APGC, RSAF – MDA (Overall) and MDA (Innovation) Winner

APGC's mission is to generate and sustain effective, timely and robust airpower. Having won both awards for the second consecutive year, APGC continues to achieve excellent outcomes by strengthening its systems and structures to foster an innovation culture. Not only does APGC equip its servicemen and women with the necessary skill sets to innovate, but the Command also provides strong leadership support by empowering their personnel to introduce and implement changes to improve their daily work.

Driven to continue their innovation efforts and committed to bringing more projects to full-scale implementation, APGC continues to be at the forefront of the RSAF's Smart Air Base initiative, as well as the engineering and logistics capabilities to keep the RSAF aircraft at a high state of operational readiness. These initiatives go a long way to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the RSAF to safeguard Singapore's airspace.

2. MES Formation, Army – MDA (Overall) and MDA (Innovation) Winner

The MES Formation is responsible for (1) providing responsive maintenance and engineering support for all SAF land systems at the most cost-effective approach throughout the system life cycle; (2) ensuring system safety of land systems, and (3) raising, training and sustaining technicians and army engineers. With a strong belief in innovation, MES' is committed to equipping its people with the necessary skills and space to innovate. This has resulted in many innovations being realised that reap operational effectiveness and resource efficiency for the SAF.

Some key innovations by MES in collaboration with defence industry and other partners, such as National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster include:

In-house developed data loggers to enable Condition-Based Maintenance for tracked platforms and innovations, such as the next generation Asset Preservation System (APS) that utilises smart technologies such as automation, Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart tools, data analytics and visualisation to enhance operational effectiveness;

Implementation of integrated Forward Maintenance Hubs (iFMH) in Army Camps based on redesigned maintenance processes that reduce cost and improve system availability for training; and

Spearheading Additive Manufacturing in the MINDEF/SAF by developing standards to assess the quality of end-use products and supporting rapid prototyping efforts such as DIY drones and magazine spacers.

These are just some of the many implemented innovation initiatives that led them to clinch the MDA award this year again.

3. TG – ACC, RSAF – MDA (Overall)(Combat) Winner

TG is responsible for the professional and skills development of the RSAF transport force, by ensuring that the aircrew is trained to a high level of proficiency to carry out their assigned missions effectively. TG's strong and pervasive innovation culture is demonstrated though their people's commitment to innovation and operational success. TG's drive to innovate also includes collaborating with external agencies such as the Aerospace arm of ST Engineering, the National Environment Agency (NEA) and the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) for various projects. Notably, the Automatic Weather Radar was developed jointly with the NEA to incorporate information from the NEA website to present an automated weather update. This innovation enhanced visual navigational waypoints for weather assessment and better decision making, and was also deployed at the National Day Parade 2019 for the RSAF flypast.

 

MDA (Innovation)

The MDA (Innovation) is awarded to the MINDEF/SAF unit or department that best develops and implements innovative projects with significant impact, while nurturing the outstanding qualities of its people. Similar to the MDA, there are two tiers to the MDA (Innovation) – Division/Command level and Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level. In addition to the MDA, APGC and MES Formation will be receiving the MDA (Innovation) for the second consecutive year because of their strong culture for innovation. Special Warfare Group (SWG) of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) will also be receiving the MDA (Innovation) at the Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level again this year, while the Air Defence & Operations Command (ADOC) and 7 Air Engineering and Logistics Group (7 AELG) have been awarded at Division/Command level and Brigade/Formation/Group/Unit level respectively for the first time.

1. SWG, RSN – MDA (Innovation)(Combat) Winner

SWG's elite divers are trained to execute highly complex maritime operations. SWG emphasises the need to innovate and continuously improve so that they continue to deliver the highest level of operational effectiveness and maximise resource efficiencies in a constantly evolving threat environment. An example is when SWG improved operational availability of the Combatant Craft Medium by fabricating a cover box for trim relay. The box protects the trim relay from moisture damage, improving the reliability of the craft for operations and exercises. This has not only resulted in cost savings but also demonstrated how the RSN can troubleshoot and develop solutions to enhance operations.

2. ADOC, RSAF – MDA (Innovation)(Combat) Winner

ADOC's mission is to safeguard the integrity of Singapore's territorial airspace and provide air defence for homeland security. ADOC's innovation efforts include the provision of innovation spaces such as the iADOC Launch Pad^[1], the forging of partnerships with key stakeholders and the empowering of their personnel to experiment. The innovative environment in ADOC has inspired and motivated their personnel to implement projects, such as the Search and Rescue (SAR) Planning Tools developed in conjunction with the SAF Centre of Military Experimentation (SCME) and the Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA). The project eliminated the need for manual plotting of map coordinates and area for conduct of SAR operations, ensuring that the tool meets the standards promulgated by the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual. The solution has since been showcased to the CAAS, one of the key partners when the RSAF conducts SAR operations to save lives. ADOC's persistent attitude to overcome daily work challenges through innovation also saw the implementation of the 24/7 Remote Network Monitoring System. This allowed the serviceability of the Surface-to-air PYthon-5 and DERby (SPYDER) deployment sites to be remotely monitored from a control centre, significantly reducing the manpower required to conduct routine checks at each deployment site. Of note, this project was completed within two months from conceptualisation, and had achieved 90% in cost savings.

3. 7 AELG, RSAF – MDA (Innovation) Winner

7 AELG provides engineering and logistical support to the RSAF's F-15SG and C-130 aircraft to enable the continuous launch and recovery of these platforms to meet the SAF's mission. 7 AELG adopts a well-defined approach to systematically plan, develop and proliferate both top-down and bottom-up innovations among its personnel, so as to cope with the operational tempo and ultimately achieve mission success. 7 AELG views safety as a medium to spur innovation. They developed a piece of equipment that enables the safe transportation of the F-15SG Bomb Release Unit–47, and eliminates any occurrence of injuries during the transportation process. Furthermore, 7 AELG also devised an alternative method of replacing the Indicator Light Panel on the F-15SG Oxygen Regulator Control Panel, which resulted in significant man-hours savings. The Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) has since recognised the RSAF's alternative method, which has been implemented fleet-wide.

 

MINDEF Innovation Project Award (MIPA)

The MIPA is conferred on project teams that have produced projects that are impactful, scalable, user-centric and bold. The award also seeks to inspire innovation in MINDEF/SAF. This year, Headquarters Supply, Headquarters MES and Headquarters Armour from the Singapore Army will be conferred the MIPA for their project "Mechanised Training Hub", while the 817 SQN and 606 SQN from the RSAF will receive the MIPA for their project "Improving Defect Recovery Time for Wing Position Lighting Defect" and "Portable Under-Vehicle Surveillance System" respectively.

1. Mechanised Training Hub by HQ Supply, HQ MES and HQ Armour

The Mechanised Training Hub is an integration of the Integrated Forward Maintenance Hub (iFMH) and Integrated Force Preparation Hub (iFPH). The project involved multiple stakeholders to redesign conventional work processes by reviewing their policies and process, enabling full equipping of the Armour units for operations and training. The one-stop hub provides access to equipment, vehicles, and maintenance services seamlessly within Sungei Gedong Camp, improving equipment serviceability and providing an additional layer of checks over a smaller centralised equipment pool.

2. Improving Defect Recovery Time for Wing Position Lighting Defect by 817 SQN

The RSAF improved the procedure for rectifying the F-15SG aircraft Wing Position Lighting defect. The in-situ replacement of LED Modules within the Wing Position Light Procedure improved aircraft availability and serviceability, reducing the repair work from 48 man-hours to 3 man-hours. It also eliminated the need for aircraft towing, which incurs additional risk especially during night operations. Boeing has promulgated these procedures into its World Wide F-15 Aircraft Operators' Technical Manual, benefitting global users of the F-15 aircraft.

3. Portable Under-Vehicle Surveillance System by 606 SQN

The Portable Under-Vehicle Surveillance System (PUVSS) enhanced the security operations conducted by the RSAF Force Protection Squadrons. Being a lightweight (about 10kg), weather resistant, portable and versatile undercarriage surveillance system, it is equipped with motion sensors, panoramic camera with high beam LED lights and data storage capability, allowing a full scan of the undercarriage of vehicle clearly with playback function to review the scanning of any particular vehicle if necessary. The PUVSS is currently in use at seven locations across APGC, and was loaned to the Singapore Police Force to assist security checks at the National Day Parade 2019.

 

MINDEF Innovation Champion Award (MICA)

The MICA recipients were nominated by their Formations based on their (a) level of support and influence; (b) contribution in addressing organisational challenges; (c) boldness of their ideas/solutions; and (d) transformation engendered for the organisation, as related to innovation. This year, 22 outstanding individuals will receive this award.

MINDEF Savings and Value Enhancement (SAVE) Award

The MINDEF SAVE Award recognises the contributions of excellent Economy Drive initiatives by MINDEF/SAF units, departments and project teams. This year, the SAVE Award goes to the following initiatives:

1. Army Ops Cost Savings by Supply Command

The simple yet effective 3R strategy – Rationalise, Review and Reduce – reaped significant cost savings of more than S$30 million without compromising defence capabilities and soldier experience. This effort is systemised to constantly derive savings by Army Ops Cost Working Committee which comprises the Army leadership and relevant stakeholders who manage Training, Supplies, Maintenance and Administration budgets.

2. Aggregation of Enterprise System (ES) Contracts by Joint Logistics Department & DSTA

The proactive efforts of the team to review existing processes in order to improve productivity, strengthen governance and reduce operation costs are recognised in this project. In aggregating multiple ES associated contracts into a single contract, they achieved synergy in contract management as well as reduce overheads and lead time for enhancements. Users had also provided positive feedback on the changes. These efforts resulted in more than S$2 million cost-savings, without incurring additional costs to MINDEF/SAF.