SINGAPORE — A new “peacekeeper”, more powerful and more mobile than its predecessor, has been enlisted into the Singapore Army. The Protected Response Vehicle, Peacekeeper, was commissioned by Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen today (July 8), as part of the Second People’s Defence Force (2 PDF Command) Golden Jubilee parade.

Among those present at the parade, which was held at Clementi Camp, were chief of army major general Perry Lim and more than 200 pioneer servicemen who have served in 2 PDF Command over the past 50 years.

One of the oldest units in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), 2 PDF Command helps protect key installations, such as Changi Airport and Jurong Island, and coordinates military resources during civil emergencies.

The Peacekeeper, which will replace the V200 armoured vehicle, will support servicemen carrying out security operations at important civilian and military installations.

Addressing the parade, Dr Ng said: “The current threats from extremist groups such as ISIS and ISIS-inspired lone-wolf attacks are clear and present, and affect all countries globally.

“In Singapore too, we have people who have been radicalised. 2 PDF must therefore continue to update its doctrine, tactics and equipment to meet these new challenges.”

A total of 40 Peacekeepers will take over from the V200s — which have been in service almost since the nation’s birth — within the next year.

The Peacekeeper’s Remote Control Weapon System allows operators to fire its single weapon — either the 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, the 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun or the 7.62mm Coaxial Machine Gun — from inside the vehicle. The Peacekeeper, which is also better equipped to tackle different terrains, is fitted with six large off-road tyres, and can travel up to 50km with punctured tyres. While the Peacekeeper is a new addition to the island’s defence landscape, the 2 PDF Command, which started out as a volunteer-only unit, has long been a part of it.

When the SAF was formed in 1965, the PDF headquarters was tasked with raising 3,200 volunteers to improve the island’s defence capabilities.

Three years later, the unit was reorganised to take on internal security duties. Today, the 2 PDF Command comprises the SAF Military Police Command and is designated as the Island Defence Task Force.

One of the pioneer servicemen who attended the parade, colonel (ret) Wong Geok Seam, 82, said the unit’s role had evolved over the years. “(2 PDF Command) has expanded in a great way. Also, (its) responsibilities have increased,” said the veteran who served in the unit for more than 30 years. “Previously … we only (had) one battalion. Now, the PDF … is in charge of the whole defence of the island.”

Paying tribute to the generation that helped build the Army, Dr Ng said: “The pioneers witnessed firsthand and up-close the struggles of early Singapore. We will never forget those experiences.”