Singapore’s defence sector sees more coordinated efforts in AI and cybersecurity
By Si Ying Thian
Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen highlighted the need for various government agencies to work together to deal with digital threats, following announcements of initiatives to consolidate cybersecurity capabilities and drive AI adoption in defence.
Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Heng delivering the welcome address at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit 2025. Image: Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA)
Multiple initiatives around the Singapore defence sector using artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing were announced at the Singapore Defence Technology Summit happening from March 18 to 20.
The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) will partner with private companies to develop AI for autonomous flight operations, develop generative AI (GenAI) solutions to support decision making of commanders, as well as leverage sovereign cloud computing services.
A whole-of-government narrative was also emphasised at the summit by Defence Science & Technology Agency (DSTA) and other Singapore government keynotes at the conference.
Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, in his opening speech, underlined the role of the yearly Critical Infrastructure Defence Exercise (CIDeX) to strengthen cyber capabilities across the Singapore government.
The national cyber defence exercise is a collaboration between the Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS), which is under the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), to train other public agencies.
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Collaborative nature of AI
Responding to GovInsider’s inquiry at a media briefing, DSTA’s Deputy Chief Executive (Operations), Roy Chan, said that Singapore needs strong collaborations in the space of AI given the country’s limited resources and the versatile application of AI technologies across different sectors.
For example, DSTA and DSO National Laboratories - the research and development (R&D) arm for national defence - will partner with French company, Mistral AI, to train large language models (LLMs) and tap on GenAI for the local operating context, with support from AI Singapore.
To optimise resources for maximum impact, the Minister of Defence, Ng Eng Hen, officially launched two commands within the DIS to consolidate capabilities to accelerate both digital transformation within the defence sector and enhance Singapore's overall cybersecurity operations.
DSTA’s Chan shared in the media briefing that the agency is recognising the potential of adapting commercial technology for the defence sector – given its relatively lower cost of these compared to specialised defence solutions.
For example, speech-to-text AI allows soldiers to input information via voice commands while handling rifles, which is crucial for operational efficiency.
“We will continue to build and deepen partnerships with these industry leaders, as well as the government, academia, to co-create solutions for [defence] operations,” he said.
Chan also sees significant potential in using AI to accelerate design and production, especially for engineering aircrafts and unmanned aerial devices (UADs).
Effective and ethical AI
The use of AI in the defence setting, especially in the context of the Israel-Palestine war, has been heavily debated.
DPM Heng highlighted the need to “embrace innovation in a manner that is both responsible and secure.”
He pointed to the importance of putting in place safeguards to ensure “ethical, transparent and accountable decision-making.”
DSTA is currently working with multiple stakeholders across the industry, academia and research to develop verification and validation frameworks for AI-enabled autonomous systems, according to him.
The SAF AI Centre’s head, Military Expert (ME) 6, Shawn Kan, shared that one of the key focus areas for the newly set up centre was enabling the use of safe, reliable and robust AI across different defence domains, as reported by The Straits Times.
Launched in 2024, the centre is aimed at driving and developing AI, cloud computing and 5G technologies.
DPM Heng also highlighted Singapore’s global involvement in the military AI governance space.
In 2024, Singapore co-hosted the second Responsible AI in the Military Domain Summit and a regional consultation to discuss military AI governance and aligning technological developments with global security norms.
As part of a global effort, Singapore has co-sponsored a UN resolution designed to establish clear norms for the safe and ethical deployment of military AI.