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101 ways to help keep SAF’s technological edge

SINGAPORE — Since young, Ann Chia Jing Xiu, has had a great interest in aeroplanes and building models of them, a passion that spurred her to decide on engineering studies — and now, the chance to help develop Singapore’s future air defence capabilities.

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SINGAPORE — Since young, Ann Chia Jing Xiu, has had a great interest in aeroplanes and building models of them, a passion that spurred her to decide on engineering studies — and now, the chance to help develop Singapore’s future air defence capabilities.

The 19-year-old was today (July 22) one of the 101 recipients of a scholarship from the Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) and the DSO National Laboratories.

She hopes that upon graduating in mechanical engineering at the National University of Singapore, she can contribute towards the Singapore Armed Forces’ fighter jets, transport aircrafts and helicopters.

“It’s fascinating how an aeroplane, which weighs more than an elephant, can take flight and travel at fast speeds,” she said of her interest in the “technology and engineering behind this modern marvel”.

The DSTA-DSO scholarships given out today were for junior college and polytechnic or equivalent graduates, undergraduates as well as DSTA and DSO staff wishing to pursue postgraduate programmes.

And their areas of education will cover a range of subjects in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, such as cyber security, aeronautical engineering and system design and acoustics.

One recipient, Ms Eng Huiling, 30, a project manager in DSTA’s Land Systems Programme Centre, will be pursuing a Masters in System Design and Management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the United States.

Working in the chemical, biological and radiological defence domain, she has helped to develop configurable decontamination and treatment vehicles for the SAF and to equip soldiers with personal protection equipment, among other contributions.

“Systems thinking will play a greater ... role in the management of increasingly complex and integrated project requirements. In addition to being technically proficient, one would also need to be adept in managing projects and their multifaceted components,” she said.

Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen emphasised to recipients the role the 5,000-strong defence technology community (DTC) has played in transforming the SAF to face new threats.

He said: “For our national defence, the DTC indeed forms an indispensable partner without which the SAF could not have progressed to what it is today: A modern, credible and professional fighting force.”

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