'Soldiers will always be our most important asset': How SAF's Next Generation Infantry Battalion aims to keep them safe

ROCKHAMPTON, Australia — The Singapore Army is transforming its infantry with a new force structure, advanced weapons and unmanned systems, aiming to improve combat effectiveness while reducing soldiers' exposure to danger.

Known as the Next Generation Infantry Battalion (NGIB), the transformation is designed to help infantry units adapt to an evolving battlefield where threats are harder to detect and adversaries may use unconventional tactics.

"Our soldiers will always be the most important asset that we have," said Brigadier-General (BG) Fairoz Bin Hassan, Chief Infantry Officer and Commander of the 9th Singapore Division, during an interview on Monday (Oct 26) at Exercise Wallaby in Queensland, Australia.

"Every change we make is not only to increase the chances of mission success, but also the survivability of every soldier," he added.

The NGIB is built around three principles: Fighting smarter, integrating better and remaining future-ready.

It combines changes to how soldiers are organised and deployed with technologies that allow them to work more closely with other Army and Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) assets.

Machine-first approach to reduce risks to soldiers

A key change under the NGIB is the greater use of man-unmanned teams, with drones and other unmanned platforms taking on tasks that could otherwise expose soldiers to danger.

"The logic is always machine-first," BG Fairoz said, explaining that unmanned systems could be deployed for reconnaissance and strike missions in high-risk environments instead of sending soldiers directly into danger.

He added that drones allow infantry to see and strike targets at greater distances, expanding the capabilities of a force that previously relied more heavily on what soldiers could see and engage directly.

The NGIB is also intended to give commanders greater flexibility in deploying troops , rather than simply reducing the number of soldiers needed.

"What matters is not about fighting with fewer soldiers or more soldiers. What matters is the capability that we can bring to bear," BG Fairoz added.

More flexible force structure, with drones supporting operations

Under the NGIB, each rifle company will comprise five platoons, each with two six-man sections, giving commanders a total of 10 rifle sections.

This replaces the previous structure of three platoons, each comprising three seven-man sections.

The redesigned structure allows commanders to organise their forces according to the mission.

Different platoons can simultaneously assault an objective, secure a road or hold a key junction, while others remain in reserve.

Each company will also have two dedicated Steel Net sections – a team dedicated to operate unmanned systems, including surveillance and attack drones.

They specialise in using these systems to support infantry operations.

The NGIB will progressively incorporate new capabilities and weapons to improve sensing, protection and firepower, including a new light machine gun and the Next-Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicle.

Lieutenant Colonel Shahreel Rajaratnam, Commanding Officer of the 5th Battalion, Singapore Infantry Regiment (5 SIR), described the NGIB as a "Swiss Army knife" that gives commanders a range of tools to draw on depending on operational requirements.

"Depending on what the mission entails, we are able to leverage that technology in putting a machine-first approach in all that we do, thereby keeping our soldiers safe and sending the machines first in anything that is dangerous or onerous," he said.

The battalion also draws on capabilities such as its Terrex infantry carrier vehicles, which provide additional firepower, mobility, protection and connectivity.

Soldiers remain an integral asset

Beyond changes to its force structure, the NGIB aims to strengthen coordination between infantry units and the wider Army and SAF.

Infantry units will be able to draw on capabilities from other formations, including armour, combat engineers, intelligence and fire support, as well as air support.

The NGIB will continue to evolve as the Army tests new technologies and refines its fighting concepts, rather than follow a fixed implementation timeline.

Despite the growing role of technology, BG Fairoz stressed that soldiers must continue to master fundamental skills, including marksmanship, individual fieldcraft and physical fitness.

"No matter how much technology you put in, no matter how much you change a battlefield, at the centre of it, some things don't change," he said.

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com

澳大利亚罗克汉普顿——新加坡陆军正在通过新的部队结构、先进武器和无人系统来改造其步兵，旨在提高作战效能，同时减少士兵面临的危险。

这项被称为“下一代步兵营 (NGIB)”的转型旨在帮助步兵部队适应不断变化的战场，在这样的战场上，威胁更难被发现，对手可能会使用非常规战术。

“我们的士兵永远是我们最重要的资产，”新加坡第9师首席步兵官兼指挥官费罗兹·本·哈桑准将周一（10月26日）在澳大利亚昆士兰州举行的“袋鼠”演习中接受采访时表示。

“我们所做的每一项改变，不仅是为了提高任务成功的几率，也是为了提高每个士兵的生存几率，”他补充道。

NGIB 的构建围绕三个原则：更聪明地战斗、更好地融合和保持面向未来。

它结合了士兵组织和部署方式的改变，以及使他们能够与其他陆军和新加坡武装部队 (SAF) 资产更紧密合作的技术。

以机器为先的方法降低士兵风险

NGIB 的一个关键变化是更多地使用人机协作团队，无人机和其他无人平台承担可能使士兵面临危险的任务。

“逻辑始终是机器优先，”费罗兹准将解释说，无人系统可以部署在高风险环境中执行侦察和打击任务，而不是直接派遣士兵进入危险之中。

他还补充说，无人机使步兵能够看到并打击更远距离的目标，从而扩展了部队的能力，而此前部队更多地依赖于士兵能够直接看到和交战的目标。

NGIB 的目的还在于赋予指挥官更大的部队部署灵活性，而不是简单地减少所需的士兵数量。

“重要的不是兵力多少，而是我们能发挥出怎样的能力，”费罗兹准将补充道。

更灵活的兵力结构，无人机可辅助作战行动。

根据 NGIB，每个步枪连将由五个排组成，每个排有两个六人班，指挥官总共将拥有 10 个步枪班。

这取代了之前由三个排组成、每个排由三个七人班组成的编制。

重新设计的组织结构使指挥官能够根据任务组织部队。

不同的排可以同时进攻目标、夺取道路或守住关键路口，而其他排则作为预备队。

每家公司还将设立两个专门的钢铁网部门——一个专门负责操作无人系统的团队，包括监视和攻击无人机。

他们专门利用这些系统来支援步兵作战。

NGIB 将逐步整合新的能力和武器，以提高感知、防护和火力，包括新型轻机枪和下一代步兵战车。

新加坡步兵团第5营（5 SIR）指挥官沙赫里尔·拉贾拉特南中校将国民警卫队步兵营（NGIB）描述为“瑞士军刀”，它为指挥官提供了一系列工具，可根据作战需要加以利用。

他说：“根据任务的具体情况，我们可以利用这项技术，在所有工作中优先使用机器，从而保障士兵的安全，并在任何危险或繁重的任务中优先派遣机器。”

该营还利用了诸如泰瑞克斯步兵战车等装备，这些装备可提供额外的火力、机动性、防护和连接性。

士兵仍然是不可或缺的资产。

除了部队结构的变化外，NGIB 还旨在加强步兵部队与更广泛的陆军和新加坡武装部队之间的协调。

步兵部队将能够利用其他部队的能力，包括装甲部队、战斗工兵部队、情报部队和火力支援部队，以及空中支援部队。

随着陆军测试新技术和改进作战理念，NGIB 将不断发展，而不是遵循固定的实施时间表。

尽管科技的作用日益增强，但费罗兹准将强调，士兵必须继续掌握基本技能，包括射击、单兵作战技能和体能。

“无论你投入多少技术，无论你如何改变战场，在战场的核心，有些事情是不会改变的，”他说。

asyiqin.nadzri@asiaone.com