SINGAPORE – The use of radio frequencies (RF) from locally built transmitters allows the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) to blind hostile drone sensors before they reach our shores.
These frequencies can also be used for creating images of distant targets.
The custom-made RF transmitters developed over more than 16 years by DSO National Laboratories won Vincent Leong the Defence Technology Prize Individual (Research & Development) award on Nov 6.
“A major issue in developing this new technology is the manpower aspect. Radio frequency is not the ‘in’ thing in terms of engineering disciplines – that would be AI robotics, right?” he said.
He added: “I hope this award can bring inspiration to other defence scientists and engineers.”
The home-grown RF transmitters – which can be more compact than a smartphone and up to 50% smaller than similar systems being sold on the market – boost Singapore’s resilience and self-reliance amid global disruptions to supply chains. They also protect the island in a warfare environment increasingly dominated by drones.
A crucial part of a transmitter is the high-power amplifier. There are not many suppliers in the world for the amplifier, said Leong, who is a distinguished member of technical staff at DSO specialising in radio-frequency circuit design.
“If we depend on just a few suppliers for this important capability, then we will be at risk in terms of the system delivery and implementation. To avoid all this supply chain uncertainty and potential disruption, we have our own capabilities in building the transmitters,” he said.
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