SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) is spending more this financial year as it spent less than planned last year due to delayed projects, Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said on Monday (Mar 1).
The ministry is expected to raise its spending to S$15.36 billion, up 12.7 per cent from S$13.63 billion in the last financial year. It is also the second-highest budget among ministries, behind the Ministry of Health.
AdvertisementAdvertisementDr Ng said this is the first time that MINDEF's budget will see a year-on-year double-digit growth since 1998.
"Mainly because MINDEF spent about S$1.5 billion less than planned in 2020 – about 10 per cent less – due to the delay of some projects," he said in his ministry's Committee of Supply speech in Parliament.
[h=3]READ: Defence spending will be kept steady despite new threats, neighbours spending more: Ng Eng Hen[/h]This includes big-ticket items like SAFTI City, which will be completed by 2024 instead of 2023, and the Invincible-class submarines, which are expected to be delivered six months late in mid-2022.
AdvertisementAdvertisement"If the post-COVID recovery ensues, MINDEF expects its budget to stabilise and return to a growth trajectory targeted and announced in previous years – about 3 to 4 per cent nominal growth each year, to keep pace with inflation over a period," Dr Ng added.
[h=3]READ: COVID-19 delays new submarines, but delivery of F-35 fighter jets on track: Ng Eng Hen[/h]Nevertheless, Dr Ng reiterated that the Republic of Singapore Air Force is on track to receive four F-35 fighter jets around 2026. He also revealed that the RSAF will start basing F-35 training in Guam from 2029.
Defense News reported in July last year that the RSAF had intended to co-locate its Arizona-based F-16 training detachment with its future F-35 training unit.
Advertisement[h=3]READ: Singapore to buy 4 F-35 fighter jets with option for 8 more; price comparable to F-15SG[/h]Moving on the Army, Dr Ng said the Headquarters Sense & Strike was inaugurated last November.
This involved a re-organisation of HQ Army Intelligence and HQ Singapore Artillery under the 6 Division, which comprises a number of infantry brigades.
This allows the Army to "integrate capabilities from both (headquarters) to 'see better' and 'shoot faster' with less manpower", Dr Ng said.
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