Defence Minister says benefits far outweigh cost of move; also reveals plans to boost air-defence capabilities
Xue Jian Yue Today Online 17 Sep 13;
SINGAPORE — The planned relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base may prove costly as it requires highly skilled expertise, but Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said yesterday the redevelopment of the area could reap benefits that far outweigh the move.
Described by Dr Ng as a “long-term and complex undertaking” requiring “fairly intense and highly skilled engineering”, the relocation involves building a new military air base and fourth runway at Changi East at around 2030.
The Defence Ministry (Mindef) will be working closely with the Ministry of National Development (MND) for the relocation, which will free up an area bigger than Bishan and Toa Payoh for new homes, offices and factories.
“In coming in to this decision, we have worked together with MND to calculate the trade-offs,” he said.
“It all balances because the space that is released … including the height templates around it, on a net basis, it is many billions dollars’ worth of positive returns to the people of Singapore.”
The minister was replying to Member of Parliament (Nee Soon GRC) Lim Wee Kiak’s questions on the cost of the planned relocation of the air base, and how the Government will maintain the Republic of Singapore Air Force’s (RSAF) operational readiness in light of the move.
Dr Ng did not, however, say how much the planned relocation, which was announced last month, would cost.
Dr Ng also briefed the House on Singapore’s plans to upgrade its air-defence capabilities, which includes the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) buying a new missile defence system “many times more potent” than the current I-HAWK ground-based air defence system, he said.
Called the ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile System, it will allow Singapore to engage multiple air-borne threats simultaneously and from a longer distance, Dr Ng explained.
The RSAF is also building a multi-layered Island Air Defence System to provide a “comprehensive shield” against airborne threats.
“This includes at the outer perimeter, our existing Gulfstream-550 Airborne Early Warning aircraft, which replaced the E2C in 2012, and significantly enhanced our early warning and air defence capabilities through its better endurance and longer range of detection,” Dr Ng said.
Together with a shorter-range air defence system called SPYDER, the long-range ASTER-30 Surface-to-Air Missile System will contribute to Singapore’s air defence shield.
The RSAF also plans to upgrade its F-16 fighters and is evaluating whether the multi-role F-35 fighter can meet Singapore’s security needs, said the Defence Minister.
Wrapping up his parliamentary reply, Dr Ng said that Mindef and the SAF had in 2011 conducted a “thorough” assessment of Singapore’s capabilities and security threats.
“We satisfied ourselves that our security would not be compromised and that relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base could take place after existing air bases at Changi East and Tengah Air Base have been expanded to accommodate relocated assets and facilities,” he added.
