Cuts by MP Henry Kwek during Ministry of Defence’s Committee of Supply Debate 2019
MINDEF Accord
Chairman,
1.As a member of MINDEF Advisory Council on Community Relations, or MINDEF ACCORD, for the past 3 years, I have witnessed first-hand how MINDEF successfully build broad support from society, from businesses, schools and various communities.
2.In particular, I would like to commend MINDEF on its successful engagement of Singaporeans through NS50 in the past year.
3.Nevertheless, in the wake of the recent training incidents, there is much work to be done to strengthen our people’s support for NS and defence. We have also just introduced a new pillar for Total Defence.
4.As such, what are MINDEF plans in the year ahead to engage the community and grassroots to understand and support the importance of NS, as well as our broadened concept of Total Defence?
Watch the speech here
F-35
Chairman,
1.MINDEF recently announced the intention to purchase the F-35, a 5th generation multirole aircraft, which can perform:
a.air-to-air,
b.air-to-ground, and
c.intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
2.More importantly, the F-35’s stealth capabilities can help us maintain air dominance, and overcome sophisticated air-defence.
3.At the same time, the F-35’s can fuse sensors and information from different sources, thereby networking our 4th Generation aircrafts and SAF assets together.
4.In short, the acquisition of F-35 can level up RSAF’s capabilities significantly.
5.And despite earlier concerns of the F-35 program, it has achieved initial operation capability in several countries, including the US.
6.At the same time, given the unprecedented complexity of F-35 as a program, we can expect it to evolve and mature over time. In other words, the cost of the F-35s can differ, and perhaps decrease, as the F-35 program becomes more matured. Therefore, it is important for us to purchase the appropriate number of F-35s, with the appropriate capabilities, at the appropriate time.
7.As such, can MINDEF on how can we best ensure that our announced F-35 purchases will be cost-effective, while delivering the required capabilities to keep Singapore secure?
Watch the speech here