SINGAPORE: Singapore will need to pay particular attention to defence if the global order starts to fall apart, even as the country builds resilience across energy, food and other parts of the supply chain, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong on Thursday (Apr 9).

If global order moves in that direction, there will be a "vacuum" which leads to disorder, he said.

"It means messiness. It means unpredictability," said Mr Wong.

Asked by reporters during a visit to the 6th Singapore Division/Headquarters Sense and Strike (6 Div/HQ SS) at Mandai Hill Camp about the Iran war's impact on defence, the prime minister spoke about a world where countries may resort to the use of force and coercion to get what they want.

"Small countries like Singapore will come under pressure," he said, which is why Singapore has to go beyond equipping and transforming the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).

"It is also about thinking hard about technology and defence supply chains and how Singapore can be more resilient as a country," Mr Wong said. 

He was joined by Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing at the visit. They observed how the SAF deployed drones on the battlefield, which Mr Wong said allowed him to learn how these capabilities are integrated with the rest of the military.

With recent conflicts in Ukraine and Iran showing that warfare is evolving through the use of unmanned systems, it has given Singapore "a lot of food for thought", said Mr Wong. 

It is not just about buying new platforms, he noted.

"What was of more importance is how the new capabilities are integrated well across different domains - between the operations and the technology team - and across different services, so that the SAF can be a more effective deterrent against potential aggressors," he added. 

Singapore must be prepared for more conflicts and more fighting around the world in the years ahead, Mr Wong said.

"We wish it were not so, but this is the reality of the world we live in, and we must be prepared."

CHALLENGES OF DRONE WARFARE

With low-cost drones being used in Ukraine and Iran, Mr Wong noted that such a trend can pose challenges to countries with advanced defence technologies.

"You can have the most advanced interceptors, but when your aggressor is deploying cheap swarms of drones, it's very challenging for your interceptors to defend," he said, adding that it also takes time to replace the expensive assets.