SINGAPORE - Special forces elements from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will stage a hostage rescue demonstration from a "hijacked" public transport bus in what will be a first for this year's National Day Parade (NDP), said the parade organisers on Thursday (June 23).

Audiences can look forward to seeing rescuers storm the bus and blow up one of its windows to save hostages from terrorists.

The Total Defence Display (TDD) - last seen in 2017 - will also feature an amphibious operation by the navy's elite naval divers as well as the army's Leopard tanks driving onto the promenade at Marina Bay floating platform.

The display will involve more than 500 participants and over 50 assets from Singapore's security and defence agencies. The new Chinook chopper, Hunter AFV, as well as next-generation police cars and the Singapore Civil Defence Force's (SCDF) pumper firefighting machine will make their debuts in the segment.

SCDF's Red Rhino, tactical response police motorcycles and troopers from the army will also be in action.

NDP organisers revealed these details at an NDP event at Marina Bay's Float on Thursday.

The TDD will be interwoven with the largest marching parade in three years as the NDP aims to return to its pre-Covid-19 scale. The parade will see 2,000 people from 37 physical and virtual marching contingents participate.

In addition to the Home Team and SAF contingents, the parade will include school and civilian contingents. The youth uniform groups and socio-economic groups did not participate in person in 2020 and 2021, while virtual contingents that debuted last year will be reprised.

In celebration of 55 years of National Service (NS55), the parade will pay tribute to the country's past and current national serviceman. The youth contingents will march to form an NS55 shape as a salute to all NSmen.

Lieutenant Colonel (LTC) (NS) Desmond Fu will be commanding the parade.

He said he was very glad to represent and pay homage to NSmen in the parade this year.

The father of a seven-month-old said that having a child has made him realise the importance of keeping the country safe.

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