Singapore army invests in uncrewed systems to address manpower shortages
The declining number of service members as the “greatest internal challenge” facing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). To tackle this, Singapore is increasing automation and assigning conscripts and national reservists, known as “NSmen,” to roles aligned with their civilian expertise to boost efficiency and effectiveness.
Singapore guardsmen complete an obstacle course during exercise Valiant Mark with U.S. Marine Rotational Force-Southeast Asia in Singapore in December 2024. (Photo: SGT. SHAINA JUPITER/U.S. MARINE CORPS)
Singapore (VNA) – Singapore is ramping up its deployment of uncrewed systems and restructuring its armed forceඣs to a🍨ddress a shrinking pool of potential military recruits amid demographic shifts.
Singaporean Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen described the declining number of service members as the “greatest internal challenge” facing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). To tackle this, Singapore is increasing automation and assigning conscripts and national reservists, known as “NSmen,” to roles aligned with their civilian expertise to boost efficiency and effectiveness.
The Defence Ministry is leading efforts to mitigate the impact of an aging population on force strength. The Navy, for example, expects a 30% decrease in personnel by 2044, according to US-based publication Defense News.
Muhammad Faizal Abdul Rahman, a research fellow at Singapore’s S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), noted that unmanned systems help offset manpower constraints and adapt to modern warfare, including the use of autonomous combat systems seen in global conflicts.
Over the past decade, the ratio of working-age adults to retirees in Singapore has dropped from 6-to-1 to less than 4-to-1, according to the Ministry of Manpower./.
The Singaporean Government is able to provide a suite of support measures in this Budget as it has managed its resources properly, and because it is doing everything it can to help Singaporeans cope with cost pressures and to improve their lives, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.
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