SINGAPORE — A special aerial display by the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) and naval combat divers participating in an aerial jump are among the visual spectacle expected for this year's National Day Parade (NDP).

Held at the Marina Bay floating platform this year, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) naval combat divers will join crowd favourite the Red Lions in performing an aerial jump for the first time, before landing in the surrounding waters.

While details for the aerial spectacle — which includes a special flypast by the RSAF to commemorate its golden jubilee — will be released at a later date, the NDP executive committee unveiled on Tuesday (May 22) the logo, theme and theme song for this year's parade.

The theme — We Are Singapore — was chosen to inspire and rally Singaporeans to be proud of their identity and how far the nation has come, said Brigadier-General (BG) Alfred Fox, who chairs this year's NDP executive committee.

"The theme is clear, enduring and resonates with Singaporeans. It says who we are, where we have come from, what we have overcome and what we aspire to be together," said BG Fox.

Hence this year's logo, in line with the theme, aims to reflect the idea of Singaporeans uniting together to proclaim the pledge of unity.

A typographic design of the words "We Are Singapore" enclosed in a bold speech bubble to symbolise many voices coming together as one, this year's logo will have the crescent and stars of the Singapore flag embedded within it.

This year's eponymous NDP song, We are Singapore (2018), is a 1987 classic given a new spin.

Singer-song writer Charlie Lim, who will be performing the song, retained the familiar and rousing chorus of the song, and penned new lyrics for the prelude.

Mr Lim said: "The song was written in 1987 which was very relevant in its time, but I think now, we'd want to look at things with a younger generation's perspective, look inwards a bit more. We've come a long way in a short amount of time, and we should take stock... be more introspective and more honest about things."

Mr Lim said it was initially "scary" to take on a song that everyone knows and sings. He would later spend a week listening to old NDP songs for inspiration and record a demo in his bedroom, which was eventually used in the song.

Acknowledging the timeless message of unity and national pride of the 1987 original song, the NDP exco said in a news release that Mr Lim'srendition retains key elements that resonate with Singaporeans, while incorporating new elements from the younger generation.

"The result is a harmonious co-existence of old and new, past and present. It signifies how we take responsibility for the future first as individuals, then as one united people, anchored on the values that have built our nation," the release said.

The combined schools choir will also be making a comeback at the parade after a five-year hiatus.

Declining to reveal the budget for this year's parade, BG Fox said it was "similar" and "comparable" to last year's parade. "We will continue to exercise prudent spending and ensure that we make the most of the expenditure," he added.

Close to 14,000 participants from public and private agencies will be involved in the celebrations at the Marina Bay floating platform this year, organised by the SAF 3rd Singapore Division.

As in previous years, this year's NDP will consist of three key segments — a pre-parade, parade and ceremony and the main show.

Spectators will also get to be a part of the last segment through a "placard moment", where they can hold up placards with their own written expressions of Singapore, to symbolise many parts forming one Singapore.