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SINGAPORE – The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) next-generation Aster 30 missile system, designed to neutralize airborne threats in distant locations, has been operating around the clock since August.
The ground system has also been integrated into RSAF’s networked Island Air Defense System, which can now counter a variety of threats, from fighter jets to UAVs and precision-guided munitions.
Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen said that the system’s defense capabilities today mark a significant milestone since it was first developed some 15 years ago.
The transformation occurs on several fronts, Dr. Ng said, after witnessing a mock Aster-30 deployment at Lim Chu Kang Camp II on Thursday (December 17).
The system can now see and respond to targets much further afield and requires much less manpower, either to detect threats or to load ammunition.
Another significant improvement is that it can cope with different types of aerial threats, not just airplanes as in the past.
Dr Ng said: “So I would say it is a significant phase shift that gives us the peace of mind that we can protect Singapore and Singaporeans from threats from the air.”
“Given Singapore’s small size and highly dense population, we will always be vulnerable. Even with these air defense systems we can never be immune, but we can significantly reduce the threat level. So I am very comforting.”
Dr Ng added that the defense systems are state-of-the-art against ammunition now on the market and will serve Singapore for at least the next two decades.
The air defense system, conceptualized around 2006, integrates advanced sensors such as multi-mission radar and the Gulfstream 550 airborne early warning aircraft and weapons systems such as the Aster-30 and the shorter-range Spyder missile system.
Together with the intelligent combat management system, the air defense system jointly developed by RSAF and the Defense Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) provides a real-time picture of the air situation by organizing and combining data from multiple sources.
The combat management system, the “brain” of the network, can automatically classify threats and recommend the most effective weapons system to deal with them, using artificial intelligence and data analysis. This reduces operator workload and improves response time.
Previously, operators had to manually assess the threat posed by each target and assign the appropriate weapon system to take it down.
Air Defense Group commander Loh Woon Liang said the island’s air defense system allows for the timely detection of all kinds of air threats, from unknown aircraft to air-dropped munitions or unmanned aerial vehicles.
The newly acquired Aster 30 increases its effectiveness, he said, noting: “Its range reaches up to 70 km, allowing defenders a longer response time to deal with a wide range of threats.”
Singapore first received the French-made Aster 30 in 2018 to replace the i-Hawk that had been used for more than 30 years. A total of 11 people are required to operate the i-Hawk, compared to six for the Aster 30.
Third Warrant Officer Thiyagaraj Subramaniam, who is an air defense systems specialist operating the Aster 30, said that the missile system offers greater automation and is easier to maintain than the i-Hawk.
“For example, to implement the i-Hawk system we needed to use cranks, which required more manpower. Now this can be done with the push of a button,” he said.
Teng Siang Loong, DSTA’s senior program manager, said the intelligent combat management system was designed and built with the flexibility to integrate different sensors and weapons systems, including future ones.
The network also allows all the different assets to operate together as a centralized pool of resources. “This improves the resilience and sustainability of critical air defense operations 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,” he added.
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