Dr Tim Huxley, a defence analyst with London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: 'In the light of the proliferation of ballistic missiles in Asia, it seems logical for Singapore to look into ballistic missile defences as it assesses its requirements for future long-range air defence systems.'
It is a prudent step now that nation is within the range of ballistic missiles
By David Boey, Defence Correspondent
SINGAPORE now falls within the range of countries that possess ballistic missiles, and defence experts say the Republic has two options for a missile defence shield.
Singapore can either defend itself with anti-missile missiles or come under the sea-based missile defence shield provided by American warships deployed to the region.
The Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) is likely to set its sights on an anti-missile shield as it transforms into a third-generation force.
Indeed, Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean noted in an interview to mark Singapore Armed Forces Day on July 1 that Singapore's air defences may need to address ballistic missiles.
Mr Teo said: 'We don't expect that they will be a direct threat to us. But the fact of the matter is that we are now within their range rings when, prior to that, we were not. So this is something which, if we're prudent, we will take into account.'
A range ring is a circle drawn around a weapon to indicate its farthest reach when fired in any direction.
Mr Teo said the next generation of air defence systems has to be good for the next 20 years. As such, RSAF air defence planners have 'to see the extent to which we need to take into account the ability to detect and to protect ourselves against systems of this type'.
Of the 34 countries worldwide that are believed to have some type of ballistic missile, almost one-third are located partly or entirely in Asia.
Such threats are hard to combat and only a handful of systems, such as the US-made Patriot, the Israeli Arrow system or US Navy's Standard Missile 2, can deal with them.
US missile analyst Michael Swaine said in his study on missile defences in Asia: 'Ballistic missiles are of particular concern because, when armed with conventional high-explosive warheads, or especially nuclear, chemical or biological warheads, they present a combination of capabilities and features unmatched by any other weapon.'
Dr Karl-Josef Dahlem, senior expert for air defence systems with missile manufacturer MBDA Ge rmany, said ballistic missiles plunge towards the earth at several times the speed of sound. This gives air defence personnel mere minutes to react against a threat that is hard to detect because it is small, and moves quickly.
Dr Dahlem listed long-range sensors and a real-time early warning component - which could include space-based satellites - as critical parts of a missile defence system because a country needs these to detect missiles launched thousands of kilometres away.
He added that defenders need to link weapons and sensors together, and have the ability to command these in real-time as split-second decisions need to be made.
Analysts noted that the RSAF's integrated air defence system makes Singapore airspace among the world's most heavily defended.
The system comprises warplanes, ground and airborne radar, anti-aircraft missiles and guns - but these are all designed to detect and combat hostile air raids and not ballistic missiles.
That could change as the RSAF moves towards its third generation.
The first-generation RSAF, formed 38 years ago, built a fledgling air defence capability. The second generation involved fighting jointly with army and navy firepower.
The third-generation RSAF will use advanced sensors to see first, see more, understand better and decide better. Doing so allows the air force to strike faster and more accurately than the enemy.
Dr Tim Huxley, a defence analyst with London's International Institute for Strategic Studies, said: 'In the light of the proliferation of ballistic missiles in Asia, it seems logical for Singapore to look into ballistic missile defences as it assesses its requirements for future long-range air defence systems.'
