Singapore must pay attention to defence if global order falls apart, adapt to new warfare trends: PM Wong

He highlighted four evolving challenges: urban complexity, data overload, faster and smarter threats, and multi-domain operations. 

Buildings and structures in the urban environment can make it difficult to pick up the targets present everywhere. More sensors are needed to cover as many blind spots as possible, said COL Khoo. 

A good command and control information system is also necessary to collate all incoming data and filter the information that matters, he added.

To combat fast-moving targets, the “kill chain” needs to be shortened – from the time a target is picked up and determined as a potential threat, to the time taken to assign a shooter to take it down.

Lastly with warfare no longer confined to a single domain, the SAF will need to bring in expertise such as from the army, air force, the DIS into a cohesive system to become an effective fighting force, COL Khoo said.