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wayang wayang? not battle proven?
Stealth frigates display firepower
They take down air, land and sea targets in their first big exercise
SOUTH CHINA SEA: The Singapore navy's six radar-evading stealth frigates demonstrated their firepower in their first major naval exercise yesterday.
The frigates, taking part in a two-day, 800-man exercise in the South China Sea, were joined by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
The frigates were among the 'blue', or friendly, vessels - which included three missile corvettes, one Landing Ship Tank and a submarine - that crippled opposing 'red' forces.
The 114m-long frigates, Singapore's largest combat vessels, showed how they were potent enough to hunt and destroy enemies on land, at sea and in the air, while appearing no larger than a fishing boat on their opponent's radar screens.
During yesterday's drill, the frigates were key assets, or 'mother ships', that hammered the red forces. They torpedoed the aggressor's submarine, fired Harpoon missiles at ships and 'splashed' hostile planes with anti-aircraft missiles.
The 'search, strike and defence' exercise ended at 6am today.
Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong said the frigates are the 'principal nodes that link and orchestrate' all air and sea assets to dominate the battlefield.
Besides the big guns of the stealth warships, other 'shooters' that were plugged into the same combat picture were two F-5 Tiger jets. Their coordinated assault took down four 'hostile' F-16 fighter jets quickly and precisely.
RADM Chew said that men and machines were put through their paces to sharpen their fighting skills. Such shakedowns are vital to the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) transformation into a more lethal third-generation fighting force.
Sensors like the E-2C surveillance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, too, are critical in spotting hostile targets. They act as 'eyes and ears', feeding intelligence and allowing the frigates, which have detection capabilities of their own, to see further, higher and deeper, said Colonel Giam Hock Koon, 41, who commands the six frigates of the 185 Squadron.
Speaking to reporters on board the RSS Steadfast, he said: 'Even if there are more than 20 aircraft coming from different directions, our computers can quickly tell the red from the blue forces, and immediately identify the highest-priority threat to shoot down.
'Ultimately, the smart systems allow commanders to decide faster and give them time to think ahead of how better to shape the sea battle.'
Stealth frigates display firepower
They take down air, land and sea targets in their first big exercise
SOUTH CHINA SEA: The Singapore navy's six radar-evading stealth frigates demonstrated their firepower in their first major naval exercise yesterday.
The frigates, taking part in a two-day, 800-man exercise in the South China Sea, were joined by the Republic of Singapore Air Force.
The frigates were among the 'blue', or friendly, vessels - which included three missile corvettes, one Landing Ship Tank and a submarine - that crippled opposing 'red' forces.
The 114m-long frigates, Singapore's largest combat vessels, showed how they were potent enough to hunt and destroy enemies on land, at sea and in the air, while appearing no larger than a fishing boat on their opponent's radar screens.
During yesterday's drill, the frigates were key assets, or 'mother ships', that hammered the red forces. They torpedoed the aggressor's submarine, fired Harpoon missiles at ships and 'splashed' hostile planes with anti-aircraft missiles.
The 'search, strike and defence' exercise ended at 6am today.
Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong said the frigates are the 'principal nodes that link and orchestrate' all air and sea assets to dominate the battlefield.
Besides the big guns of the stealth warships, other 'shooters' that were plugged into the same combat picture were two F-5 Tiger jets. Their coordinated assault took down four 'hostile' F-16 fighter jets quickly and precisely.
RADM Chew said that men and machines were put through their paces to sharpen their fighting skills. Such shakedowns are vital to the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) transformation into a more lethal third-generation fighting force.
Sensors like the E-2C surveillance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles, too, are critical in spotting hostile targets. They act as 'eyes and ears', feeding intelligence and allowing the frigates, which have detection capabilities of their own, to see further, higher and deeper, said Colonel Giam Hock Koon, 41, who commands the six frigates of the 185 Squadron.
Speaking to reporters on board the RSS Steadfast, he said: 'Even if there are more than 20 aircraft coming from different directions, our computers can quickly tell the red from the blue forces, and immediately identify the highest-priority threat to shoot down.
'Ultimately, the smart systems allow commanders to decide faster and give them time to think ahead of how better to shape the sea battle.'
