HOW ISRAEL SHAPED THE SINGAPORE ARMED FORCES


israel
Maaf Atikel ini dalam bahasa English, kalau tak baca, tengok aja gambar pun dah cukup....membuktikan Singapore adalah anjing suruhan yahudi laknatullah

 A deep, dark, secret love affair 
By: Exchersonesusaurea
A TEAM OF IDF (ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES) OFFICERS, KNOWN AS THE `MEXICANS,' HELPED SINGAPORE ESTABLISH AN ARMY. IT WAS THE START OF A VERY SPECIAL RELATIONSHIP.
By Amnon Barzilai
 
Haaretz, Jul.16, 2004 (source)
 
Christmas Eve, 1965, is the unofficial date of the start of the great and continuing love story between Israel and Singapore, a love affair that was kept a deep, dark secret. The international press, like the Israeli media, tried to bring the tale to light. Occasionally, scraps of information leaked out; some were published, some were denied, many were disregarded. The Israelis, as usual, wanted to rush to tell all their friends, but managed to overcome that desire. The fear that the ties would be terminated if they became public knowledge had its effect. Israel imposed a total blackout on the story and the secret was preserved. Until the other side could no longer contain itself. 
     
In his book, "From Third World to First: The Singapore Story 1965-2000," published in 2000, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's founding father and its first prime minister, disclosed the secret that had been kept for almost 40 years: It was the Israel Defense Forces that established the Singaporean army. The Israeli military mission was headed by Yaakov (Jack) Elazari, then a colonel, who was later promoted to brigadier general. After leaving the army, he became a consultant to the Singaporean army. He died 15 years ago. "To disguise their presence, we called them `Mexicans.' They looked swarthy enough," Lee wrote. 
     
Singapore's army is today considered the strongest and most advanced of the military forces in Southeast Asia. The alliance between the Israeli and Singaporean defense establishments intensified and expanded, and it now encompasses cooperation between the two countries' military industries, as well. The scope of the deals, according to foreign sources, indicates that the Singaporean army is one of the major clients of Israeli combat means and military technology. Singapore's aircraft industry is cooperating with its Israeli counterpart and with Elbit Systems in upgrading the F-5 warplanes of the Turkish Air Force. A few years ago, Singapore's defense minister revealed that the Gil antitank missile, which is manufactured by Raphael (Israel Armaments Development Authority), was developed in cooperation between the two countries. 
     
Surrounded by Muslims Lee explained the need to maintain secrecy to his close friend in the leadership, and the first defense minister in his government, Dr. Goh Keng Swee. "We have to ensure, as far as possible, that the arrival of the Israelis will not become public knowledge, in order not to arouse opposition among the Malay Muslims who live in Malaysia and Singapore," the prime minister summed up. That, in essence, is Singapore's problem. The residents of the small island, which has an area of about 670 square kilometers (Israel is 30 times as large), are mainly Chinese, and they live between the two Muslim countries of Malaysia and Indonesia. Life in the shadow of the large Muslim majority and fear of a Malaysian incursion are an integral part of the history of the two countries. 
     
Singapore declared its independence from Malaysia on August 9, 1965. At the time of its creation, it had only two infantry regiments, which had been established and were commanded by British officers. Two-thirds of the soldiers were not residents of Singapore, and in any event the leaders of the nascent state had no faith in the strength of the minuscule army. The defense minister, Goh, contacted Mordechai Kidron, the former Israeli ambassador to Thailand, and asked for assistance. Kidron arrived in Singapore within days, along with Hezi Carmel of the Mossad. "Goh told us that they think that only Israel, a small country surrounded by Muslim countries, with a strong army, could help them build a small, dynamic army," Carmel says. The two Israelis met with Lee, who writes that he "told Keng Swee to put it on hold until Lal Bahadur Shastri, the prime minister of India, and President Nasser of Egypt replied to my letters seeking their urgent help to build up our armed forces." 
      
It's not clear whether Lee, in fact, believed India and Egypt were capable of, or interested in, building up Singapore's army. Many Israelis believe the two leaders were approached only for appearance's sake. After a few weeks of waiting, India and Egypt congratulated Singapore on its independence but did not offer military aid. Lee ordered Goh to push ahead in contacts with the Israelis. 
     
At the same time, in the wake of reports sent by Kidron and Carmel, the Israeli defense establishment deployed to supply military aid to Singapore. In discussions conducted by the chief of staff, Yitzhak Rabin, with the participation of the deputy chief of staff and head of the Operations Branch, Ezer Weizmann, it was decided to make Major General Rehavam Ze'evi, who was then deputy head of the Operations Branch, responsible for building the Singaporean army. Ze'evi (nicknamed "Gandhi" ) paid a secret visit to Singapore and the preparatory work began on his return. "Gandhi said he wanted to create an ideal army for Singapore, something we hadn't built here," Carmel says. "Instead of setting up a Defense Ministry and a General Staff, Gandhi suggested an integrated organization, a more economical structure. So there wouldn't be too many generals and too few soldiers." 
     
Ze'evi appointed Elazari, who worked under him in the Operations Branch, as head of the team he established. Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan, then-commander of an armored division (he retired from the IDF with the rank of brigadier general), was subsequently added to the team. Some members of the team "concentrated on writing the chapters that dealt with building army bases. I wrote the chapters dealing with the establishment of an infantry," Golan says. Initially they produced the "Brown Book," dealing with combat doctrine, followed by the "Blue Book," dealing with the creation of the Defense Ministry and intelligence bodies. The Brown Book was translated into English and sent to Singapore's government for its perusal. In October 1965, a military delegation from Singapore arrived in Israel. 
     
BG Yehuda Golan of IDF (source)
"The delegation arrived in order to tell us: `Well done, but to implement the book, you are invited to come to Singapore,'" Golan recalls. Prior to setting out, the members of the military mission were invited to the chief of staff's bureau. "Dear friends," Rabin said, "I want you to remember several things. One, we are not going to turn Singapore into an Israeli colony. Your task is to teach them the military profession, to put them on their legs so they can run their own army. Your success will be if at a certain stage they will be able to take the wheel and run the army by themselves. Second, you are not going there in order to command them but to advise them. And third, you are not arms merchants. When you recommend items to procure, use the purest professional military judgment. I want total disregard of their decision as to whether to buy here or elsewhere." 
     
Wake-up at 5:30
On December 24, 1965, about five months after Singapore became an independent state, six IDF officers and their families set out on an unknown mission. "Elazari and two other officers dealt with the establishment of the Defense Ministry," Golan relates. "My task, along with three other officers, was to establish the army." 
     
Elazari operated according to a number of basic principles, from which the original Israeli team and those who followed did not deviate. The first was to build up a cadre of local commanders and instructors. The second was that the instructional material would be written by the cadets who would be trained as officers. And the third was that practical training would be conducted by Singaporean instructors. 
     
"We wanted to recruit a group of 40-50 people who had some sort of military experience and would be ready to serve in a career army," Golan explains. "We organized things so that they would appoint one of their number to serve as commander. As head of the group, the cadets chose someone of Indian origin named Kirpa Ram Vij, who would eventually become chief of staff of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). For three months we gave an intensified officers course."  (On Kirpa Ram Vij, see In Command of His Life below.)
BG (retd) Kirpa Ram Vij (source)
     
The first course had an IDF format: wake-up at 5:30 A.M., calisthenics, personal arrangements, parade. Training began at 7:30 A.M. and went until 1 A.M. "After a few days of training a group of cadets showed up and said, `Colonel Golan, the Arabs aren't sitting on our heads here. What do we need this madness for?' I called Elazari and explained the situation. He arrived a few days later with Defense Minister Dr. Goh, who told the cadets, `Do what Colonel Golan tells you to do, otherwise you will do double.'" 
     
Parallel to conducting the course, the Israeli team supervised the establishment of the first military base, based on plans of the Israeli Engineering Corps. Construction of the base was completed in three months. 
     
In under a year, the Israeli team conducted a course for new recruits, a platoon commanders course and an officers course, on the basis of plans that were sent from Israel. All told, about 200 commanders were trained. 
     
Jobless instead of soldiers
Once the staff of commanders was ready, it was possible to start creating the standing army on the basis of conscription. The Israelis prepared to establish two more infantry regiments, according to the IDF model, with each regiment consisting of three companies of riflemen, an auxiliary company and an administrative company - a total of 600 soldiers. Lieutenant Colonel Moshe Shefi, who was an instructor in a company commanders course, was sent as an adviser. "We discovered that there was psychological resistance to conscription in Singapore," he relates. "Of 10 professions, that of soldier was ranked last. In first place was the artist, followed by the philosopher, the teacher and the merchant, and the thief was in ninth place. Soldiering was considered a contemptible profession. In Singapore, conscription was considered a means to overcome unemployment." 
     
The Israelis faced a problem. To evade service, most of the young men of draft age (18-24) who were of Chinese origin furnished proof that they were employed. Some 70 percent of the inductees were unemployed and of Malaysian origin - the opposite of their proportion within the population. Elazari and Golan complained to Lee and Goh, but the prime minister was undeterred. "I want you to recruit the most primitive people in the country, the uneducated and the jobless," he told them. Stunned, the Israelis tried to persuade him to reconsider, but he was adamant: "In the Second World War, I saw the Japanese and the British. All the British soldiers were intelligent and educated. But as soldiers they were worthless. The most primitive Japanese soldier gets an order and executes it, and they were extraordinary soldiers. The fact is that the Japanese army defeated the British army." 
     
Golan says, "Yaakov and I tried to explain to him that it's not a question of education but of motivation. The Japanese soldier was motivated because he was fighting for his emperor, who for him was God. For him, he was ready to sacrifice his life. What motivation did the British soldier have, who fought thousands of kilometers from his home?" The explanations about the spirit of combat and about how to generate motivation persuaded Lee. 
      
Along with the two tracks of compulsory service and career army, Singapore also adopted the IDF's model of reserve service. Every soldier who completed his regular service was obligated to serve another 13 years, until the age of 33. A system to mobilize the reserves was established and the Defense Ministry carried out surprise call-up exercises. Because of its small size and its lack of areas for live-fire training, Singapore had to establish training bases in friendly neighboring countries. 
     
Surprise tanks
The unquiet in Singapore, and above all the fear of an invasion by Malay forces, together with the rapid development of the Singaporean army, generated additional needs. With the creation of the infantry, the Israeli team made an in-depth study of the battles fought by the Japanese in Southeast Asia during World War II and of how they succeeded in invading Malaysia and Singapore. Shefi was given the task of delivering a talk on the subject to Singapore's government. 
     
On the basis of the lessons the Israelis drew from the engagements fought by Japan and Britain, they created a naval force based on sampans. "The boats were made of wood and could carry 10 to 15 soldiers, and they were appropriate for the conditions of the sea and for the jungle rivers," Golan says. "On a stormy sea they can be operated with oars or a motor. We asked the Singaporeans to purchase 20 boats and we set up a small base where infantry companies trained in raids and navigation." 
     
Retired Colonel Asher Dar says, "The second team that arrived in Singapore applied what Yehuda Golan did in the form of combat doctrine. We trained in flanking maneuvers with small boats and in live fire using artillery. When the head of the training department, Yitzhak Hofi, visited Singapore, we carried out a model landing of an infantry brigade that set sail in boats at night at a distance of 12 kilometers with the aid of shore navigation only." 
     
The waiting period in Israel on the eve of the 1967 Six-Day War was a rough time for the Israeli team in Singapore. "We were relieved the Israelis were not defeated or our SAF [Singapore Armed Forces] would have lost confidence" in the Israeli instructors, Lee writes. In January 1968, Singapore decided to create an armored corps. In great secrecy, an agreement was signed for the purchase of 72 AMX-13 light tanks from IDF surplus. It was a bold decision: Malaysia, the country's large neighbor, didn't have tanks. 
     
On Independence Day, August 9, 1969, a major surprise awaited the invited guests, including the defense minister of Malaysia: 30 tanks rolled past the reviewing stand. "It had a dramatic effect," Lee writes. Malaysia had cause for concern. Its defense minister recommended to his guests that they take steps to persuade the Malaysian government that its intentions were not hostile. 
     
In the wake of the Israeli victory in 1967, the veil of secrecy over the ties between the two countries was lifted a bit. The Singapore delegate at the United Nations abstained in a vote on a resolution condemning Israel that was sponsored by the Arab states. Contacts began to establish full diplomatic relations. In October 1968, Lee permitted Israel to establish a trade mission and in May 1969 authorization was given for the establishment of an Israeli embassy in Singapore. The status of the Israeli military mission to Singapore was also strengthened, and the mission heads who followed held brigadier general rank. The first Israeli military delegation laid the foundations for an extensive network of relations between Israel and Singapore. 
     
Foundations of the air force
The small Israeli team in Singapore was augmented by professional military advisers for the various corps. The chief armored corps officer, Major General Avraham Adan, arrived to give advice on procuring armored vehicles. In 1968, Adam Tzivoni, a retired colonel who had been head of the planning and weapons branch in the air force, was appointed adviser to the Singapore Armed Forces in regard to the creation of an air force. 
     
"As compensation for the hasty departure of the British army, the British government gave Singapore a grant of 50 million pounds to acquire British-made aerial systems: planes, helicopters and surface-to-air missiles," Tzivoni relates. "The British didn't like me at all. My first task was to approve the deals. It turned out that the English tried to sell Singapore junk. Apart from a deal for Hunters, I vetoed all the deals." 
     
Under Tzivoni's supervision, a flight school was established in Singapore, as well as a technical school, a squadron of Alouette 3 helicopters was purchased and 40 mm anti-aircraft guns were acquired. 
     
Uzis and Israeli marching songs
After the creation of the Singaporean army's infantry regiments, the question arose of what weapons the nascent armed forces would use. The commanding officers wanted the Uzi, the Israeli submachine gun. The Israeli team took an objective view and rejected the idea. True, the Uzi was considered a superb weapon in the 1960s, but only for short ranges. A regular army needs an assault rifle, the Israeli team asserted. Representatives of Israel Military Industries exerted pressure on the Defense Ministry to sell the new Galil assault rifle. However, the team decided that the rifle wasn't yet full ready and recommended the American M-16. 
     
Another major headache for the Israelis concerned the decision about which mortars to procure for the new army. Infantry regiments are equipped with 60 - 52 mm and 18 mm mortars. The weapons, which were developed and manufactured by the Soltam company, based in the town of Yokne'am, were sold to the Israel Defense Forces and exported worldwide. "Even though we thought these were the best mortars, we decided not to recommend them but to make use of an independent source in order to reach a decision," says Yehuda Golan, a member of the team sent to Singapore. 
     
The Israeli team asked a British firm that dealt in organization and consultation on military subjects to examine a series of mortars and recommend the best one. The report stated that the best of the lot was an 18 mm mortar manufactured in Britain. However, considering the price, the recommendation was to buy the Soltam product. The Singapore Armed Forces acquired the Israeli mortar. 
     
"The Israelis emphasized military skills and high motivation. Smartness on parade and military tattoo, the SAF [Singapore Armed Forces] never learned from the `Mexicans.' Whatever smartness the SAF had" derived from the British officers who commanded the army's first two regiments, Lee writes. 
     
"Our motto was that we would not stick our nose into what the Singaporeans could do themselves," Golan notes. "They wanted us to organize the Independence Day parade for them. We argued that a state military parade reflects the country's mentality and its history." The Singaporeans didn't make an issue of it. However, they had a problem that demanded an immediate solution - which marches to play as the soldiers marched in unison. The head of the Israeli mission, Yaakov Elazari, brought notes from Israel and the Singapore army strode to Israeli marching songs. 
      
The jungle combat manual
The Singaporeans took the Israelis by surprise when they insisted on getting a course on jungle combat. Singapore has a tiny natural jungle of no more than five or six square kilometers, but the neighboring states have larger jungles. Yehuda Golan: "I told them they were right but that I wasn't the right guy, because I knew nothing about jungles." Nevertheless, the Israeli team began to find out how to cope with the subject. It was decided to send two Singapore officers as guests of the Malaysian army for a course on jungle combat. 
      
"Three months later, the two officers returned with the knowledge they acquired in Malaysia, and we decided to conduct a course in jungle combat," Golan continues. "Out of curiosity, I decided to join. It looked very bad - it was clear that they had taught them British methods from the Second World War period. I decided to take a group of 10 officers. We entered the jungle and started to engage in war games. We trained in navigation, deploying forces, search and assault. We went through the American training manuals on combat in Vietnam. We developed methods of night navigation. We learned how to function with a fighting company in the dense undergrowth. After a few weeks of training, I wrote the training manual of the Singapore Armed Forces for jungle combat." 
******************************
Tango "Mongolia" (Танго "Магнолия")
The history of military cooperation between Israel and Singapore
by David Gendelman (Давид Гендельман)
War Online, 2005 (source)
An imperfect Google translation  from Russian

Prologue

In the photo: Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and "founding father" of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew during his visit to Singapore Rabin, October 16, 1993.
February 6, 1819 the year Sir Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor and founded the port and trading base the British East India Company on the island of Singapore, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. At that time, lived on the island about two hundred Malay fishermen. Free port status immediately attracted traders and pushed the business activity, and the population has grown rapidly due to mass immigration, mostly Chinese and Malays, Indians and Europeans.For several decades, Singapore has grown into the most prosperous port city in South-East Asia. In the 1867th, he became a British Crown Colony in the Straits Settlements (Straits Settlements), and the beginning of World War II was the bastion of the empire, "Gibraltar of the East". However, the bastion fell to the overwhelming pressure the Japanese army early in the war, and the British returned to Singapore only in 1945. For Empire nastavali new times, a gradual transition of the former colonies to self-government. In the 1948th was elected the first Legislative Council, 1955th constitution was adopted and elections to the Legislative Assembly. Election victory won the leader of "Labor Front" David Marshall, a successful lawyer from a family of Iraqi Jews. He became the first "Chief Minister» (Chief Minister) and continued to fight for the provision of full self-government to Singapore. Singapore's first contacts with Israel began in May 1956, with a conversation with Marshall adviser to the Israeli Embassy in London Gershon Avner opening in Singapore Israeli consulate. After a few months, the voyage to Asia Singapore visited the former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Moshe Sharett. Practical steps to open the consulate had been taken, but it was a step towards cooperation in other spheres. Moshe Sharett also emphasized in his travel notes rising star of local politics, a young lawyer, Lee Kuan Yew, in particular, his open-mindedness and interest in what is happening in Israel.  Having failed to obtain from the British administration full self-government, David Marshall in June 1956 in protest resigned. By 1959 self-mu was obtained for the UK remains the only defense and foreign affairs. In the same year, won the elections IPA - "The People's Action» (People's Action Party - PAP) led by Lee Kuan Yew, became prime minister. Then a visit to Israel finance minister of the new government of Dr. Ken Goh Swee. Guest particularly interested in issues of professional training and development of the cooperative sector, and Israel sent experts to learn from the experience in these areas. Began a collaboration in the field of medicine: in Singapore, Israeli doctors went for the organization of various medical services and teaching.

Israeli Education Minister Abba Eban (right) and the Singapore delegates at the conference "Science in the development of new states", Rehovot, 14 August 1960.
 
Leaders of the ruling party, saw the future of Singapore is closely related to Malaya, which gained independence in 1957 year, it dictated the natural historical and economic ties, and so in 1961, they made every effort supported the Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman of Malaya to establish the Federation of Malaysia, which was to include Malaya, Singapore and the British territory on the island of Borneo, Brunei, Sarawak and Sabah. In 1963, it, after a referendum among the local population, the British agreed to transfer to Singapore, Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia (Brunei resulting refused this option), and Singapore became an autonomous state within the new federation, declared September 16, 1963-year.  The central authorities referred to Israel restrained hostility, but Singapore has continued to cooperate with him: Singaporean interns trained in Afro-Asian Institute and other Israeli institutions, Israeli experts in Singapore, worked in the fields of hydroponics, handicrafts, athletic organizations and research companies. The important part is still practicing medicine: Israeli doctors working in hospitals in Singapore and taught at the local university, several Singaporean doctors trained in Israel, particularly notable project was a bone marrow transplant for children with cancer. Cooperation has been diversified, so the conductor Shalom Ronli-Riklis became an adviser to the Singapore Philharmonic Orchestra and instructor Arie Levy in 1964, created by the ruling party MHP center for the training of youth organizers.  Despite the close ties between Singapore and the rest of Malaysia, there was little opposition. According to the Constitution of Malaya, the Malays were granted exclusive privileges within the government, the army, the economy and education as compared to the Chinese and Indian minorities, which was at odds with the requirements of the Lee Kuan Yew on the full equality of rights of all citizens of the Federation. Malay nationalists feared the large Chinese population of Singapore, change the overall demographic balance, which is why Tunku Abdul Rahman, was an opponent of the combination only with Singapore and twice rejected such proposals from David Marshall and his successor Lim Yew Hock. Populated predominantly by Malays Sarawak and Sabah were ethnic counterweight and more equalized position. Furthermore, there were unfounded fears about contamination of the local Chinese Communist ideas that was displayed during the uprising in Malaya in the 50s that was brutally suppressed by the British. The bulk of the rebels were pro-communist-minded Chinese and Malay leadership did not want a repetition.  On the other hand, get rid of this potentially disruptive elements, excluding Singapore from the Federation, meant a loss of control and the possible emergence of a base of Red China to the southern border of Malaysia and the separation of Singapore from the Malay minority Malay common homeland and discrimination in independent Singapore. Conflicting interests led to conflicts between the two nations, not only in the political but also in everyday life, which often took the form of physical fighting, and the government is widely applied curfew and severe police action to restore order. Constant source of friction were also sharp differences over the allocation of the federal budget and the tax burden.  The already troubled situation exacerbated relations with Indonesia.Sukarno saw Malaysia, the entrance to the defense alliance with the United Kingdom, and posted to their territory the British troops as a "bridgehead of imperialism and colonialism," and kept against her subversive activities, with a goal of the disintegration of the country and joining of Sabah and Sarawak to Indonesia and the establishment there independent state.This conflict, officially known as "confrontation", included Indonesian commando raids in northern Malaya and Borneo, border skirmishes with Malaysian and British troops, organizing guerrilla groups, the terrorist attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure and provocation clashes between Malays and Chinese. "Confrontation" ended in 1966, after a military coup, to remove Sukarno from power.  Despite the active Lee Kuan Yew and IPA leadership in building and strengthening a unified Malaysia, the contradiction between the installation of "Malaysia for Malaysians" and "Malaysia for Malaysians" were too high. Personal ambitions, Lee Kuan Yew, his methods of suppressing local opposition until his arrest activists, the desire for power at the federal level and "too noisy", as Tunku Abdul Rahman, a policy made it impossible any compromise on this issue. After setting up, under the auspices of the IPA Convention Malaysian Solidarity bloc of opposition parties, the situation threatened to escalate into civil war. Federal minister openly called Lee Kuan Yew, "the most destructive force in the state" and expressed the complete impossibility of further cooperation, "Outside, we are threatened with Indonesia, and the inside - Mr. Lee and his policies." The right wing of the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), the ruling party of Malaysia, required security measures, review of the autonomous rights of Singapore and the arrest of Lee Kuan Yew To avoid bloodshed, and seeing no other peaceful way out, August 9, 1965, the Tunku Abdul Rahman announced to the Parliament of Malaysia to expel Singapore from the Federation. The same day, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore proclaimed an independent state."For me it is a painful moment. All my life I have believed in the unity of the two territories, "- he said at an emergency press conference. This story begins on the Republic of Singapore and one of its lesser-known: military cooperation with Israel.

"AT THE FAR EDGE OF THE COMPANION FLIES"


"Mexicans" to create an army

The primary problem was the problem of the emerging State Defense: relations with Malaysia and Indonesia have been strained, as mentioned above, and all the Singapore army numbered a little more than a thousand officers and men and is a two infantry battalions, staffed mostly Malays, including the command staff. In addition, the Singapore Malaysian team was stationed. Given its impact on the commander of the political leaders, as Said Jaffar Albar, secretary general of UMNO and categorical opponent of independence of Singapore, there was a danger that the independence will end before it began. To protect the country had to be almost nothing to build a new efficient army.  Ken Goh Swee, who became defense minister, appealed to the former Israeli Ambassador to Thailand Mordechai Kidron, who came to Singapore with the proposals for the organization of military training. Israel already had at that time a wealth of experience in guiding forces of the young states of Africa and Asia, he successfully resisted a numerically superior hostile environment, so the appeal to him for help was quite natural. According to Hezi Carmel, a representative of the Mossad, who arrived in Singapore with Kidron, Ken Goh Swee believed that only Israel can handle the job. 
However, Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew previously requested assistance to build the army in India and Egypt, the leaders of the Non-Aligned Movement, but neither Lal Bahadur Shastri or Gamal Abdel Nasser sent nothing but congratulations on the occasion of Independence. Switzerland, whose model is a model of acquisition "army reservists," said that Singapore is better to do without the military. Former sovereign, Britain, to be in time to help create a Malaysian Army, declined to the same assistance to Singapore, so as not to damage their interests in the region. After that, the proposals were given the Kidron green light, but without publicity. Further damage relations with its own Muslim Malay minority, and even more with Muslim Malaysia and Indonesia, no one wanted. When looking at the map it is clear why.

Singapore - 692.7 km 2 , including small islands, Malaysia - 329.750 km 2 , Indonesia - 1,919,440 km 2 . The population at the time of declaration of independence, Singapore - 2 million (2005 - 4.4 million, of which about 900,000 foreigners, citizens of the ethnic composition: 77% Chinese, 14% Malays, Indians 8%), Malaysia - 9.3 million (2005 - 23.9 million), Indonesia - 105,000,000 (2005 - 242,000,000).
Despite this lag in area and population, the Government of Singapore enthusiasts believe in the strength of the young country, the same view was shared by both Israel and the ambitious plans began to materialize. IDF Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin was appointed curator of the Singapore project Major General Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi), who held the post of Deputy Chief of Staff Operations Directorate. Zeevi secretly visited Singapore, on his return was carried out preparatory work for the development of military doctrine with the Israeli experience and the realities of the new state, and the fall of 1965 in Singapore received the first delegation of military advisers from eight officers, divided into two working groups.  The first group, led by Colonel James Elazar operational management, dealing with creation of the Ministry of Defence and the Army staff agencies. They were conceived as a single Gandhi combined system, to avoid inflating the command staff and duplication of civil and military authorities. Gandhi gave the Singapore general project time and saw it as an opportunity to put their ideas about the "ideal army", which for various reasons could not be created in Israel. The second group, led by Lieutenant-Colonel Yehuda Golan, commander before the 13th Battalion of the Golani Brigade and school squad, formed infantry and developed guidelines, manuals and training programs KMB, commander and officer courses. For privacy advisers called "Mexicans." "When they arrived, dark and mustachioed, I decided that it just fits its name, to avoid unnecessary noise" - explained Lee Kuan Yew, a few years later in an interview with British journalists.
Yehuda Golan at a later time. What is not Mexican?

 
Number one priority was to "teacher training": the creation of a sufficiently large body of instructor who could teach their own soldiers and officers later appeals. In February 1966 marked the first three-month preparatory course instructors, held for lack of suitable accommodation in the building of a primary school in Jurong. Forty students were recruited from the police personnel, the Singapore Volunteer Corps (militia led by the British colonial administration), the available two army battalions, as well as from the Ministry of Education. In June, 300 cadets have been selected out of 2,500 volunteers, many of whom were officials of the Civil Service, started the first officer's course in SAFTI (Singapore Armed Forces Training Institute) - Training Centre of Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), which was built in a few months in Pasir Laba . For the year under Lieutenant Colonel Golan they passed basic training, the course and the actual squad officer course. Israeli instructors remembered to this day remained in the folklore of the Singapore army as democratic in personal relationships (especially compared to the British officers), but tough and demanding professionally. Until coveted epaulettes got 117 out of 300 cadets, and the rest were eliminated as unsuitable for the officer ranks. Dropped out at the last stage of the sergeants were the backbone of new units. The course was very intense, and when unused to drill the students tried to complain, Defense Minister Goh Ken Swee fully supported instructors and cadets promised a double load in the event of further complaints. The complaints stopped.

The audience at the graduation parade squad, July 5, 1967. The closest to us - Defense Minister Goh Ken Swee. Behind him, second from the left in the second row - Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan. By the time the "Mexicans" it was possible to not masked.
 
Ken Goh Swee, many years served as finance minister, one of the fathers of Singapore's economic miracle has been the main force promoting the idea of ​​a strong national army in the government of Singapore. His own military "career" was in the service with the rank of corporal in the Singapore Volunteer Corps, ignominiously capitulated to the Japanese in February 1942. But, despite the lack of military experience (or vice versa, because of this), they are in the rest of his enthusiasm. As recalled later Colonel Elazar: "Even Lee Kuan Yew was not sure that Singapore will be able to stand on their own feet in terms of defense. Sure was only Dr. Ken Goh Swee. " He was also the initiator of the invitation of Israeli advisors, and considered it a success, as already mentioned above. July 16, 1967, the year the first graduating officers parade in SAFTI, Ken Goh Swee said: "For the first time in Singapore was faced with a large project of this kind, and the instructors and staff SAFTI overcome lack of experience of diligence and hard work. They were lucky that their services were the skill and knowledge of the advisors of the IDF. To all of them, trainers and advisers, I want to express our respect for these remarkable achievements in such a short time. "
Ken Goh Swee bypass the first officer's release SAFTI, July 16, 1967.

 
One of the main principles, future officers drawn from their Israeli teachers and remains the basis of the "philosophy of command" ARIA and now, was the principle of "command example." In a speech at the graduation parade in 1970, Minister Lim Kim San succinctly expressed this philosophy: "command - it is not only to give orders, but to lead. To lead, by example, show the way. Being ahead of the soldiers. " Another important principle of education was high personal awareness and motivation of the employees, instead of blindly follow orders from the sticks.  It should be made of the important points made in the memoirs of Lee Kuan Yew: "The Israelis were competent in the transfer of military skills, they also taught us that military doctrine in which these skills are based. Their teaching methods were the complete opposite of the British. The British created the first and second CPR (1st and 2nd battalions of the Singapore Infantry Regiment - DG) gradually, starting with a training officer corps platoon leaders, company commanders, and finally, after 15 - 20 years of service - battalion commanders and lieutenant colonels. Israelis from the start insisted that our officers to learn from them and take over as instructors as soon as possible. Whatever they do, their actions have been studied and duplicated their Singaporean counterparts, from platoon and company commanders to the Chief of the General Staff. " Methods Israelis really were amazing and even neglect of British officers stationed on the island and watch from the sidelines for the learning process.Explanation of the difference between the two approaches can be found in farewell Chief of Staff Yitzhak Rabin, the first group of advisers before leaving for Singapore: "We are not going to transform Singapore into an Israeli colony. Your task - to teach them the military profession, to put them on their feet, that they managed their army. Your success will be, if at some point they will be able to take the wheel in your hands and manage their own army. " Early on in the work of advisers in 1966, Rabin visited Singapore and was pleased with the pace of training local officers. He was also impressed by the personality of Lee Kuan Yew and his very positive attitude towards Israel.  In accordance with this fast approach year after the first release SAFTI opened SATO (School of Advanced Training for Officers) - School of improved training for officers, commanders prepared the company and battalion level. The first eleven students started their studies in September 1968. The next step was the opening in February 1970, Command and General Staff College (Singapore Command and Staff College - SCSC), a higher education institution of the SAF. Its graduates have studied both applied and theoretical aspects of military science, to hold positions brigade commanders and work in the defense ministry and the headquarters of various levels. Since the second half of 1970 as senior instructor, and then the actual commander of the college took Colonel Benjamin Ben-Eliezer (Fuad), former commander of the Shaked unit, and future politician and minister of defense of Israel. He led the college to the middle of 1973, and under his leadership was preparing the first generation of senior officers of the SAF.  After training, the Israelis first sergeant and officers started to create a conscript army on Israeli Pattern: 2 years military service and 10 years of annual reservist duties, allowing to quickly deploy large forces trained in small population. "After the separation from Malaysia, we decided that most of us are like Israel, Finland and Switzerland. We chose the Israeli example to make every boy in our country's defense unit, "- said Lee Kuan Yew at the Congress of the Socialist International in Zurich in 1967, the year of. To achieve this, in March 1967 the Singapore Parliament passed the "Law on the National Service", and the government has conducted a broad propaganda campaign, as the Chinese, being three quarters of Singapore's population, traditionally disliked the army and military service, as opposed to the Malays. "From a good steel nails do, the good guy does not go into the army," - as the Chinese proverb.  In July 9000 called on first recruits, including 900 soldiers selected to serve for a full term of two years and staffed by two new regular battalions, the other due to lack of time at the command staff have been transferred to the reserve and auxiliary police forces - Special Constabulary and Vigilante Corps performing the functions of national guard and civil defense. With the expansion of the army, the system was abolished, and all recruits began their military service 2-2.5 years, depending on the specialty and rank, followed by reserve duty. The soldiers of the first set did not speak English to a sufficient degree (initially considered Singaporean army leadership, including as a means of employment and undereducated young people), so the Israeli instructors had to use interpreters. This is somewhat hindered the learning process, but temporary difficulties were successfully overcome. New Army needed professionals in different fields, in 1967-1968 schools were opened artillery training, communications, military, military engineers and medics.

Defense Minister Goh Ken Swee and Major General Rehavam Zeevi (Gandhi) at the opening of school Corps, 22 July 1967. Two founding fathers of SAF : Dr. Goh and General Gandhi.
 

Ibid: "The Army makes you an officer. Communication makes you commander. " Major Corps IDF gives explanations defense minister.

 
In January 1968, an event that radically affected the construction of the SAF: cabinet of Harold Wilson announced the withdrawal of British forces from Singapore by the end of 1971, as part of an overall reduction of military presence "east of Suez". Liquidation 35000th garrison, which included naval and air bases, was not only a significant economic impact (cost of maintaining British bases accounted for roughly 20% of the gross domestic product of Singapore), and put the issue before the Singapore self defense long before the calculated time: earlier British politicians promised to preserve the "defense umbrella" over the former colony until the mid-70s. As a result, high-speed pace of the army had to stir up even more, but the success of the first stage gives hope that the British left Singapore will be able to protect themselves. An additional source of enthusiasm were the results of the Six Day War, during which IDF army shattered the three neighboring countries, brilliantly demonstrating Israel's military doctrine in practice. "Otherwise, our military could lose confidence in the Israeli instructors," - says Lee Kuan Yew in his memoirs.  In 1968 the main part of the first delegation of advisors finished its work and returned to Israel, including Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Golan. Arrived shift, in a much larger structure, started the second phase of construction of ARIA: a sharp increase in the number of units and ground forces and the creation of the air and naval forces. In 1969, Singapore's regular army numbered six infantry battalions, summarized in two teams, went knocking together reservist units. In the same year, under the leadership of Lieutenant Colonel Asher Dar, an infantry battalion commander, received the medal "Ituri and Oz" for the battles in Jerusalem during the Six Day War, held its first brigade-level exercises that included the landing of infantry and light vessels on the coast. In developing the plan took into account the experience of Japanese and British forces in the Second World War. For this part of the preparation was responsible Colonel Moshe Shefi, course instructor commanders. As an observer attended the exercise, Major General Yitzhak Hofi, Head of Training of Staff IDF.

Spectators at the parade, "Armed Forces Day", July 1, 1969. Third from left in the front row - Commander of the Central Military District Rehavam Zeevi. New post, new worries, chasing terrorists, but Gandhi did not forget his child and regularly visited Singapore. Pay attention to the Israeli colonels and lieutenant colonels in the first and second row. Israeli military mission in Singapore at that time has grown to 45 officers.
 
 
Many of the Israeli advisers, especially among the senior officers have had along with the combat and command experience a wealth of experience in instructing, the educational process and command training units. This initial experience was important, given the set to create a full-fledged combat units SAF timing and rapid method of training. The aforementioned Colonel Asher Dar commanded during his career rate squad, base KMB Golani brigade, was an officer-instructor in the school of infantry specialties, instructor and deputy commander of the course the company commander and the chief instructor IDF officer school. From 1968 to 1970 he was responsible for the direction of the Singapore Infantry project with Lieutenant Colonel Yitzhak Zayd, a former instructor of the course the company commander, the commander of the central base of KMB and teacher Command and Staff School IDF. A clear result of their work was the creation by the end of 1970, Singapore's first division.

Minister Lim Kim San, talking with officers after the graduation parade at Taman Jurong Camp, March 2, 1968. Right - Lt. Col. Yitzhak Zayd.


 
In addition to the SAF line infantry units required and special purpose. Advisor for their creation and training was Lieutenant Colonel Amos Ne'eman, a paratrooper who participated in a sting operation and the landing at Mitla Pass, commander amphibious reconnaissance, a specialist in special operations and intelligence unit commander Haruv. In addition, he served as a military advisor in Ethiopia and the course instructor commanders. Neeman arrived in Singapore in 1969, and in the same year, 20 officers and NCOs, selected SAFTI (preliminary selection was conducted by local officers in advance), began to course instructors in a separate "regular unit". Upon completion of the course, they were under the command of the 80 recruits, and in 1971, at the end of a business trip Colonel Neeman, the unit was renamed the commando battalion. Then the staff was traditional for paratroopers red berets. The course included a commando parachute, helicopter and amphibious assault forces, orienteering and survival, intelligence and subversive activity, mine thing. From 1971 to 1973, a number of officers have advanced training in the schools of American Rangers and British Marines. In the second half of the 70th several infantry battalions was enhanced commando officers and sergeants, and on this basis has been created Guards Brigade, deployed by the end of the 90th Division in the quick response. To date, the Commando is one regular and one reservist battalion and a company of special operations, which is the basic profile of counterterrorism.  Copying Israeli example touched the initial military training. Almost simultaneously with the introduction of mandatory military service in 1967, the year in high school began lessons CWP according to Israeli "Youth Battalions" GADNA (Gdud Noar), including visits to military units and introduction to military life. As the manuals used by educational brochures GADNA specially translated into Chinese. In 1969 the type GADNA based scouting organization established the National Cadet Corps from land, sea and air compartments, where students of secondary and high school students can more deeply acquainted with the various branches of service in the future to select them for their military service. In 1975 was opened as the "School for Boys SAF» - Singapore Armed Forces Boys `School (SAFBS), in which the young age of fourteen can be trained as a team, and the technical direction, modeled on the Israeli military boarding schools and college service weapons.  Speaking of the Armed Forces of the Israeli model, not to mention a well-known features of the Israeli army, as a mandatory service in their women.At the time of the SAF only proponent of this idea was the Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, other ministers, including Ken Goh Swee not supported this initiative, so women have served in the army only on a voluntary basis and only for medical or administrative positions. From 1971, the women began to take the military police, and in 1972 held its first female officer's course, and in 1986 it was decided to partially take over the Israeli experience and open to women as an instructor of military specialties, and in 1988, were discovered and technical occupations .  In addition to purely military aspect, the army, as well as in Israel, served an important social function: rallying a diverse population into one nation. In Israel, Jews from different countries speaking different languages ​​and had a very different cultural background, finding similarities between them is often a problem. Singapore is not only the Chinese, Malays and Indians held their own religions, traditions and way of life, lived apart and did not mix with each other, but even people from different regions of China, settled in different neighborhoods and spoke different dialects. People are aware of themselves as part of their community, but not a common state or nation. The army was a tool with which Lee Kuan Yew and his colleagues set out to create a single unified patriotism and Singapore Singaporean nation, he served as an example of the IDF. Of course, life is adjusted in the good intentions, for example, Malay minority, despite the full civil equality, discriminated against in the military in regard to a particularly sensitive and strategic areas, such as the flight of the Air Force, intelligence, senior command positions, and so etc. Officially, this is due to the reluctance to put Malay dilemma "dual loyalty." In the early years of the proportion of Malay SAF recruits deliberately understated relative to the Chinese because of concerns over potential "fifth column." But, by and large, the founding fathers had their way and the Singapore army has indeed become a powerful rallying point for a new "nation in formation."

"ON THE GROUND, IN THE AIR AND ON THE SEA"


Arms and the arms

As for the arms of the new army, despite the enthusiasm of Singapore officers and their desire to learn from their instructors at anything up to Israel parade marches to its (first parades were held that way), counselors guided purely professional motives, therefore, offer to equip Singapore soldier Uzi submachine guns were rejected by the Israelis, as Uzi suitable only for close combat. Later, the same were rejected by machines Galil, as yet unfinished, and small arms SAF were American M16 (in 1970, the beginning of their local production license). However, as a means of fire support to infantry on the best set of parameters were Israeli 60-mm and 81-mm mortars produced by Salt, and they were taken by the army in Singapore. In the future, the Singapore industry arranged the production of mortars under license.  In early 1968, after the announcement of the British government minimized the military presence, it was decided to make a qualitative leap in strengthening the defense of Singapore and to create armor. In November 1968 it was formed unit VCU - Vehicle Commando Unit, which included 36 officers infantry, signal corps, logistics and reserves have been pre-course driving, communications, basic mechanics and maintenance of equipment. The wife of one of the Israeli advisers had for them as a basic course of Hebrew, and in December 1968, the officers went to Israel to study light tank AMX-13, retired IDF after the Six Day War, and the course of tank specialists. The training took place in unusual circumstances for Singaporeans winter desert and led notoriously demanding instructors IDF armored forces (the phrase "Israeli instructors" is rarely used in Singapore source without adjectives "demanding", "strong", "harsh", etc.). After four months of theoretical lessons, day and night driving, live firing and tactical exercises, field repairs, sand storms and clashes with the Bedouins, stealing scrap metal from captured tanks were the target, April 30, 1969 held a graduation ceremony. In May, the officers' group subsequently for the stories of his adventures nickname "Camels", returned to Singapore and made a plan for education and training for future soldiers.

"Camels" study materiel, Israel, the beginning of 1969.

 
The same month, the Israeli-Singaporean relations rose to the highest diplomatic level: Singapore opened Israeli embassy.Rank head of the Israeli military mission has also increased, and Col. Jacob Elazar replaced Brigadier General Uri Rum, served before a tank brigade commander and the commander of the tank school (Jacob Elazar was appointed Chief of Staff of Central District and after retirement in the rank of Brigadier-General again became a military adviser to the Singapore, now in private). Besides Uri Roma new branch consultant arrived with a special visit, Major General Avraham Adan (Bren), commander of the IDF tank troops.  In July of 1969, Israel was the first party of the AMX-13, in September - the second, only 72 were delivered to the tank. At the parade on August 9, Independence Day and the 150th anniversary of the founding of Singapore, the passage of the column of 18 AMX-13 was a big surprise for Malaysia, which did not have at the time the tanks.Display of military might come in time and cool some hot heads, as in May 1969 in Malaysia clashes erupted between the Chinese and Malays, and again there was a danger that the Malay nationalists tried to force the military to return to Singapore the federation. As he said in his report to the Defense Ken Goh Swee: "The only bright spot in the whole grim story of the race riots in Kuala Lumpur, is the positive effect that made our armored divisions on the Malaysian political circles." Guests of honor at the front podium were Israeli advisers.

Unloading the first AMX-13, July 1969. Arrival tanks kept secret before Independence Day.
 

Column AMX-13 at the historic parade.

 
After graduation parades advisers helped the "camel" conduct based on VCU additional training series to adapt the knowledge to the specific local conditions, and in September opened a course of tank commanders. In July 1970, the two companies completed the course recruits tank specialties, and created the first tank brigade, armed with AMX-13 wheeled armored personnel carriers and V-200 Commando with infantry. The following year saw the first brigade maneuvers and tank school opened.

Demonstration maneuvers armored forces SAF, 1974. The system of tactical symbols copied from the Israeli.

 
Singapore is still one of the biggest users of the AMX-13 and is armed with about 350 vehicles purchased, except for Israel, India and France. Beginning in 1988, the entire fleet of AMX-13 was upgraded Singapore Industry: AMX-13 SM1 were diesel engine, automatic transmission, hydropneumatic suspension, improved fire control system, the new means of communication, enhanced reservation.  In addition, in 1975, India had purchased 63 Centurion Mk.3 and Mk.7, and in 1993-94 an additional batch of these tanks was purchased in Israel, wrote off Centurions of regular units in 1992 to the year, and their total number has grown to 80-100, according to various sources (some of which indicates the total number as 60.) In contrast to the AMX-13, the presence of Centurions never officially recognized by Singapore, and government sources of information about it is not. Non-governmental sources also say that with the help of Israeli experts all Centurions were upgraded to Israeli standard, including the 105-mm gun L7, diesel engine, as well as, presumably, and dynamic protection, were locally called «Tempest» and used in the course of regular army exercises Singapore, Taiwan and Brunei (limited area of ​​Singapore makes conduct large-scale maneuvers in landfills friendly countries, on request). It is reported, in particular, the British explorer Tim Huxley in his book «Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore». Official confirmation of this information, as has been said, no.  In parallel with developing tank troops and artillery. At the time of independence in the Singapore army had only outdated British 25-pounder guns. In 1967 he created the artillery school and the first Singaporean artillery battalion, received on arms 120 mm mortars, the Israeli firm Soltam. Initially mortars tolerated by calculation or towed on two-wheel speed; since 1971, with the creation of self-propelled mortar battalion, they began to mount on the V-200 armored personnel carriers, and since 1973 - the M113. During the 70th conducted a quantitative and qualitative increase power Singaporean artillery in 1973 was purchased 45,155-mm field guns, howitzers, M-68 production of Salt, in 1976 - about 20 U.S. 155-mm M114 howitzer, retired U.S. Army, in 1979 - from 40 to 50, according to various sources, the gun-howitzer M-71, developed Soltamom based on M-68, in 1980 - 12 heavy 160mm mortar M-66 of the same company. 155-mm howitzers were the basis of Israeli-made artillery SAF to the early 90's, when based on the M-71 Singapore-based industry has launched production of its own howitzers FH-88, and then FH-2000, with a barrel length of 52 calibres. Despite enacting these guns, as well as the latest 155-mm self-propelled guns «Primus» and French light 105mm Giat LG1 (Division for quick response), upgraded in 1993, the M-eat-71S are still in service. Also been deployed licensed production 120-mm mortars for infantry units and self-propelled artillery.

M-71 artillery SAF, 1981.
 
Along with a strong land army Singapore needs a strong aviation. Aviation issues involved Tsivoni Colonel Adam, former head of the technical department of Staff of the Israeli Air Force. Under his leadership, in 1969, was acquired eight French helicopters "Alluet-3", formed the first division of the Singapore Air Force pilots and technicians set up schools at the airbase RAF Tengah. The first training aircraft were eight aircraft "Cessna-172K." In 1970-1971 in the UK were purchased 20 fighters "Hunter", 16 training aircraft "Straykmaster" as well as a 35 mm anti-aircraft guns and 28 SAM «Bloodhound». The first pilots were trained in France and Britain and became an instructor for the following drivers, under the Israeli leadership. Additional assistance provided retired senior officers RAF, hired on contract. In 1972, Singapore's Air Force received 27 more "Hunter" and Italian training SF260. In the U.S. Navy was purchased over 50 "Skyhawks" held upgrade to A-4S and composition in the 1974-1976 two new squadrons.

Opening of the summer school, August 1, 1969.

 
The third component of the armed forces, demanded the creation from scratch, was the fleet. In 1965, the Singapore Volunteer Navy (Singapore Naval Volunteer Force) had three old ship: former Japanese minelayer "Vakataka" and two armed vessel used for the protection of coastal waters from pirates and smugglers. New modern fleet was created to plan and under the direction of Captain First Rank Zvi Tirosh, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff Operations Division of Israel. Tirosh, the future deputy commander of the Navy, was in the 60's, led the commission that developed the ASM "Gabriel" and the Israeli missile and patrol boats. In 1969 began the first course in the Singaporean school sailors on the island of Sentosa, which consisted of 160 cadets training was conducted in conjunction with the New Zealand officers. That same year, the water was launched the first of six new high-speed patrol boats - «RSS Independence», British construction. The second boat was also built in the UK, a series of other ships were built in Singapore. In the early 70's began to come into service missile boats of the type «Sea Wolf», the first two were built in Germany, the next four - in Singapore. Missile boats armed with anti-ship missiles "Gabriel-I», Israeli navy used with 1969 and showed excellent results in the naval battles of the Yom Kippur War, and 57-mm Bofors guns. In the 1980s, in the process of upgrading to this added ASM "Harpoon" and SAM "Mistral". Boats of the type «Sea Wolf» still are in service the 185th Squadron of Singapore and will be retired with the end of the entry into service of new series of frigates type «Formidable».  By the end of 1971, the second phase of construction was completed by the SAF. Entered into force on 1 November 1971 five-sided defense agreement (ANZUK), concluded between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore, and having the official purpose "defense of Malaysia and Singapore from external attack," to some extent replaced the British garrison, but the Singapore government preferred do not rely on contracts, especially as one of the possible opponents were Malaysia, a member of the agreement. Better protection against this threat to use his own army, and in late 1971 began the third phase of construction, which lasted until the beginning of 1974. The third stage was to create a combined arms, further raising the level of officers and strengthening aviation, navy, artillery and armored forces. Of Israeli advisers serving in Singapore during this period, apart from the above-mentioned Colonel Benjamin Ben-Eliezer, who led the Command and Staff College, SAF, may be called the chief of Israeli military mission Brigadier General Ephraim PORA (replaced Brigadier General Uri Roma in early 1972) and Lieutenant Colonel Dan Vardi, supervised the tank area. Colonel Vardi have to interrupt your trip and return immediately to Israel to start the Yom Kippur War, to lead and to lead in the fight that was left of the brigade "Barack" after a heavy loss in the Golan Heights and the death of generalship.  By 1974, the mission of Israeli advisers were executed: they developed the concept of defense, laid the foundation of a new modern army, air force and navy, and trained core team of instructors and provided the basis for further professional and technical development of all branches of service. Singapore Armed Forces to stand firmly on their feet, they no longer needed a mentor, and the Israeli military presence, which began in 1965 with eight officers and reaches at its peak in 1969, forty-five, in April 1974, has been reduced.  "The Israelis have focused on training military skills and the creation of a high motivation of personnel. SAF have not learned from the "Mexicans" parade uniforms and elegance "- says Lee Kuan Yew

Israeli reservists machines are about the same.

 
A small number of officers remained at the focal positions at the Ministry of Defence and the General Staff of Singapore, but most of the military cooperation between the two countries has shifted to maintaining and building qualitative superiority over neighboring armies SAF with Israeli technology output Israeli defense industry to Asian markets, and in the future to joint technological developments in the military field. Over time, Singapore has become one of the "intimate" friends of Israel and an important strategic partner.

"HOW DOES A ROCKET, YOU WILL NOT NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT"


Israeli technology to guard Singapore

The main interest for the Army of Singapore are the technological areas in which Israel has traditionally been a leader in the world: Electro, systems with remote-controlled missiles, avionics systems, electronic intelligence and electronic warfare, control and communications systems, the modernization of ground and air platforms, simulators. A significant part of the Israeli technology "presence" refers to the air component of the armed forces. Thus, in the 80th Singapore has adopted a UAV «Scout», in 1998, the year they were replaced by 40 UAV «Searcher Mk2» production IAI. Then, based on the acquired Israeli technology (firm EMIT Aviation Consultancy) company Singapore Technologies began developing its own vehicles «Sparrow», «Blue Horizon» and «Firefly», the latter may be the basis for a cruise missile and sea-based. Also been a joint Israeli specialists to develop UAV «Golden Eagle». There is evidence of the use of the Singapore Air Force Israeli missiles "air-to-air» «Python-3" and «Python-4."  During the 90th fleet was upgraded F-5 fighter jets in service with the Air Force of Singapore from the 70's, including the installation of a new radar and navigation system. Most of the work on the integration of the Israeli company Elbit performed. In collaboration with the same firm, as well as IAI, Singapore ST Aero has developed a package of upgrades for F-5 Turkish and Brazilian Air Force. Singapore on 10 F-16D Block 52 in the course of their production in the U.S. was installed additional Israeli equipment, including electronic warfare equipment, presumably SPS-3000 company Elisra. The latest F-16D Block 52 + are equipped with one of the variants of the complex EW ASPS of the same firm, as well as sighting and navigation system container production Rafael Litening. Maritime patrol aircraft «Fokker 50 Maritime Enforcer» were also equipped with the Israeli electronic warfare system. Israel supplied night vision equipment for helicopters, radar warning devices and tactical data terminals. In addition, Singapore has bought the Israeli Air Force training systems, such as tactical simulator «Hotshot» and mining system aviamanevrov and debriefing in real time «EHUD» company BVR Systems, as well as equipment for the landfill air battles in SIAB, Indonesia, which is used by Singapore pilots., Israeli specialists was being developed spy satellite technology-based Israeli series of satellites "Ofek".

F-16D Block 52 with the Israeli Air Force of Singapore facilities.

 
The Navy Singapore are ASM "Gabriel-I» and «Gabriel-II» production IAI, SAM "Barack-I» joint development IAI and Rafael, patrol boats with mini remote control "Protector" of production Rafael, artillery and machine-gun stabilized installation "Typhoon" and "Mini-Typhoon" by the same company, and a large number of Israeli-made electronic systems, including electronic surveillance system NS-9010C, NS-9003A and EW system NS-9005 company Elisra, electro-optics system (optronic director) MSIS firm El-Op, the combat information system company Elbit, electronic surveillance system C-PEARL-M, EW system SHARK/RAN-1101, a combined system of electronic intelligence and electronic warfare SEWS/RAN-1110, multi electrooptical system «TOPLITE» and staging system of passive Rafael noise production, search radar and fire control radar EL/M-2228 SGRS, EL/M-2238 STAR and EL/M-2221 STGR company Elta.

Guided missile corvette «RSS Victory». Israeli electronics and SAM "Barack."

 
Land Army uses Israeli mortars and artillery, as detailed above, the ATGM "Spike" Israel (Raphael) and further local production, remotely controlled turrets weapons (Overhead Weapon Stations - OWS) Rafael production, control, communications, and command, control, orientation and targeting, electronic surveillance. Conducted joint development of integrated systems of C4ISR (Command, Control, Communication, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) systems and tactical communications.

Upgraded M113 Ultra with a 25 mm Bushmaster cannon on OWS Rafael.

 
Separately, it should be said about electronic intelligence in general, which is one of the most important tools of modern warfare. Speaking about the systems of air, land and sea-based, Australian military analyst Desmond Ball says: "Singapore opportunities in electronic surveillance, especially the systems acquired from Israel over the last decade (1985-1995), as well as some of its own design, are some of the the most advanced in the world and give Singapore the largest in Southeast Asia fighting capacity in electronic warfare. " For since then another decade possibility of Singapore in this area is increased, largely due to technical cooperation with Israel.  It should be noted that much of the Israeli defense exports to Singapore is classified, and many deliveries and joint projects (particularly those of the military technological departments of the two countries) are not observed even MONITORING unofficial sources. Some Israeli defense firms "Singapore" is a separate area, along with the relevant departments, and information about his work is usually not advertised. As for the total volume, then the year 2000 the amount of signed contracts is more than two billion dollars. In terms «Trend Indicator Value» International Institute SIPRI, noted a change in the world arms exports and build on comparative technical characteristics of weapons, not the financial volumes, Singapore is ranked first in the Israeli defense exports for the period 1994-2004, overtaking the United States, India and China.  Throughout the 90th Israel, according to military experts, ranked third in importance among the suppliers of military equipment to Singapore. This place is even more weight when you consider that in the first places are providers of such platforms, the production of which Israel is not a competitor: U.S. - military aircraft and helicopters, and Sweden - submarines. It is noted that an additional advantage in the competitive Israeli systems is to provide the source code of software, as opposed to the American practice, which facilitates further modifications under the emerging changes and new requirements.  In 1997 he was created an Israeli-Singaporean fund SIIRDF (Singapore-Israel Industrial R & D Foundation) to promote joint projects in the field of high technologies. During its existence, the fund has financed projects totaling $ 50 million. Singaporean investment in Israeli high-tech companies through venture since 2000, is estimated at $ 100 million annually. Financed not only by design, with military applications, but also projects in the field of biotechnology, semiconductor, printing, agriculture, etc., but most of the funds invested in the technology of "dual use". Many joint defense productions are operating under the "Israeli technology - Singapore funding." Besides those already mentioned above directions, the Israeli and Singaporean experts are working together in the areas of computer security and cryptography, the Singapore Army provides advice in various fields, such as aviation psychology, night operations, counterterrorism, etc. Between the intelligence agencies of the two countries held a regular exchange of information.  Indirect evidence of the importance attached to the defense structures of Singapore Israel, is the fact that the post of military attaché in the country has traditionally been considered the generals. The current officer in Singapore, Rear Admiral Eli Merom, a former chief of staff of the Israeli Navy and the applicant for the post of the commander, can serve as a good illustration of the "intimate" relations between the two countries in the military sphere.

Rear Admiral Eli Merom, nicknamed "China." (The Israeli navy made the rank of Army, but here is given a traditional Russian equivalents).

 
The nickname is not given in vain, looks really Chinese. His parents, Chinese and Jewish refugee from Germany, met in China during the Second World War. The general public, he became known in January 2002, after he commands the operation to seize the Palestinian ship «Karine A» with cargo smuggled weapons on board. As a military officer Eli Merom coordinates joint military projects developers, represents the interests of Israeli defense firms, and is a visual aid on the "Chinese face, and the Israeli filling", which largely reflects the educational past and present technological army Singapore.As already mentioned, the occupation of this post generals and admirals indicates the priority in relation to other countries: the post of military attache in China and India, the largest customer of Israeli defense industry, is currently occupied by colonels. We note parenthetically that this is not a strict rule, for example, the older brother Eli Miriam, Moses served as attache in China, also being a rear admiral.  Besides the fact that Singapore - one of the most important customers and partners Israeli defense industry, it is also a bridge for its publication in the Asian markets and robust Arms "third party" for transactions with countries that are not able to open and trade directly with Israel on various political reasons. Strategic location in Southeast Asia makes Singapore a natural center for the founding of the "outposts" and missions, and the world's largest by annual tonnage passing Singapore's port is a great opportunity to redirect the goods are not intended for prying eyes. Thus, the first defense contacts with China began just after Singapore, he also is a conduit for supplies. According to various sources, the sale of arms to the Government of Myanmar and the other modes are not approved by the world community and subject to various embargo on military supplies, also occurs through the mediation of Singapore. Through it also forged ties with traditionally hostile to Israel, countries like Indonesia.

"FAR EAST - SUPPORT STRONG"


Singapore Army today

The influence of Israel, but rather a natural consequence of the same reasons as that of Israel (a small area with a small population, lack of minerals, bet on themselves), it is seen not only in the structure and the military doctrine of the Singaporean army, but in the place SAF occupy in the social life of Singapore. SAF - is not only a melting pot for a unified nation and patriotic education of youth, but also source of manpower for the managerial elite of the state. End-of officers, especially scholars, received by the army education in the best universities in the U.S. and the UK, following the resignation of starting a second career in politics, in administrative and managerial positions. As a result, as in Israel, despite the differences in political practice between the two countries, this leads to the fact that the top positions are increasingly occupied by "Junta" retirees. In the present government of Singapore three generals: the Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lee Hsien Loong (son of Lee Kuan Yew), Defense Teo Chee Hian and Foreign Minister George Yeo.  Besides the fact that officers are prepared in advance to be leaders not only in the army, but also in the state, the army itself is the cornerstone of Singapore's doctrine «Total defence»: military, civil, economic, social and psychological defense - "five fingers of one hand."Patriotism and pride in their country, constant professional improvement and a willingness to re-training, maintaining harmony among nationalities living in Singapore, teaching knowledge needed in emergency situations - all this serves to strengthen Singapore as a whole, according to the theory and practice of the corporate state. "Everyone involved in the defense of Singapore" - as the slogan says propaganda campaigns of the «Total defence».


 
Everyone - but especially the army. Annual defense spending is about $ 5 billion - a record figure for South-East Asia (total costs in Indonesia and Malaysia - about 3 billion) and 23rd place in the overall world ranking (by the year 2005). By comparison, Israel ranks 17th. Just as in Israel, the emphasis is on the qualitative superiority over potential enemy: technological excellence, research and development, continuous improvement and modernization, education personnel and constant readiness. The lack of strategic depth and resources for long-term hostilities led Singaporean doctrine of "poisonous mushroom": deterring possible aggression by diplomatic and political means and the creation of an army powerful enough to inflict serious, it is desirable to unacceptable losses. Lee Kuan Yew, in an interview with «New Straits Times» in the year 2000 explained the concept as follows: "We have no one to want to fight. Why? But we should be able to get a very high price to pay ... and then go to the UN. "  Besides defensive scenarios, the doctrine includes offensive: a preemptive strike in case of a sharp deterioration of the situation, the transfer of war to the enemy with shock highly mobile parts, the failure of his plans and the completion of the conflict in the short term. Under the doctrine, as a casus belli covers not only direct military action, but also interfering with the strategic interests of Singapore, for example, blocking shipping lanes or supply of water (most of its fresh water gets Singapore from Malaysia), which could not only undermine the economic base and normal functioning of the state in general. As in many other realities of Singapore, here we also see similarities to the Israeli situation, when the IDF entered the battle because of the blockade the Straits of Tiran, Egypt, in 1956 and 1967, Israeli and Syrian interference in water 1964-1965 ("Battle of the water") . In the words of Tim Huxley, "Singapore - is not Israel Southeast Asia, but he makes it clear that dare to become one, if there is an urgent need."  An important part of the defense of Singapore is military cooperation with other countries, while maintaining an independent political course. The technological aspect of this collaboration includes local defense industry cooperation with MIC Israel, Sweden, France, Australia, USA, UK and diversification purchased military equipment, training aspect - the training of officers in the American, British and Australian military academies, quartering ongoing training and Air Force units Singapore Army on military bases in the United States, Australia, France, Brunei and regular independent and joint exercises SCD in those countries, as well as in Taiwan, the Philippines, New Zealand and Thailand. Lack of space for their own landfills makes "overseas teaching" vital to maintaining combat readiness. In addition, these exercises provide an opportunity to evaluate the SAF and compare their skills to the level of the armies of Western countries and the Asia-Pacific region.  Political and international aspect is the participation of SAF in peacekeeping and humanitarian operations in the army and the UN mission in East Timor, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala, etc., and providing military bases in Singapore to use the armed forces of the United States. In Singapore, the headquarters of the supply management of the 7th Fleet of the U.S., the Singapore government for its own account revolutionized naval base at Changi to receive U.S. aircraft carriers at Paya Lebar Air Base located Training Squadron U.S. Air Force. Of course, Singapore is one of the world's financial, transportation and industrial centers can count on the fact that the "big players" and no alliance will not allow its power to remove or a sharp blow to its security and the economy, as it will affect their own interests. But such a strong ally of the U.S., has a strong deterrent effect on potential enemies of Singapore. On the other hand, Singapore is important not to be anyone's satellite and pursue an independent foreign policy. Therefore, the key to the integrity of the island is its own strong army that can discourage potential aggressor and to fight back on their own or, in extreme cases, to be held prior to the entry to the cause of the "big players". Since the beginning of the 80th there has been a thaw in relations with Singapore's neighbors, including joint exercises with the armies of the SAF Malaysia and Indonesia, and the use of training facilities and Baturayya aviapoligona SIAB in Sumatra Singaporean pilots, but it did not change the views of Singapore's leadership on the need to maintain and strengthen the combat readiness Armed Forces of Singapore. Conversely, followed by the official statements of the transition from the doctrine of "poisonous mushroom" to the doctrine of the "hedgehog", including strengthening the offensive component. However, the views of the neighbors to the need to have a strong army warming also has not changed, as evidenced by the general arms race in the region, to the great joy of the MIC of different countries. Periodically hold "demonstrations of muscles", a prime example of which are the joint maneuvers of the armies of Malaysia and Indonesia with the dropping of paratroopers in the border areas, held on 9 August 1991, the day of the anniversary of the independence of Singapore. If we consider that this stage of the exercises carried the code name "Wipeout", the allusion is made more transparent, and it is possible to understand why Singapore is not considered political generals warming occasion to relax.

 
An additional factor, because of which the SAF prefer to keep their powder dry, is the general political instability in South-East Asia, in particular the work of Islamic extremists in Malaysia, rebel and secessionist movements in Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and ethnic conflict, sometimes results in a bloody collisions, such as the massive Chinese riots in Indonesia after the financial crisis of 1998. Long-term efforts for the military doctrine of the life led to what today is recognized Singapore army experts the most efficient in Southeast Asia, due to the large number of trained reservists (about 300 thousand soldiers and officers, the regular army of about 60,000), a high the degree of information of all echelons of the armed forces and the availability of modern military technology: F-16, Apache Longbow, missile frigates and corvettes, artillery and small arms and ammunition to its own production, precision weapons and military electronics world level. Building on the foundation of a developed economy, research and technological capacity, an educated population, a balanced internal and foreign policy of the government, and strategic relations in the world and the region, the SAF is a reliable guarantor of the sovereignty and security of the island city-state. Yes, this is only theoretical calculations, the Army of Singapore has not had to show himself in the case, but this is Singapore's concept of deterrence in action: the army must be so strong that the enemy did not dare to aggression. Much credit for the fact that the SAF over forty years of existence, went from zero to this level, belongs to Israel. And in Singapore, do not forget, as evidenced by constant references to the contribution of Israeli advisers in army building in the past and the continuous cooperation between the two countries in the present.

"WE JUST DRINK AND DRINK TWO"


Epilogue

Finish the story of the military cooperation between Israel and Singapore can quote from a speech by the Minister of Information, George Yeo (now foreign minister), delivered in 1996 to the year at the seminar "Temasek" on defense issues, held in SAFTI: «Many years ago, the commander of the Israeli Air Force General Major-General David Ivry gave a speech to the community Temasek. I was in the audience. Just as I am today, he spoke of the challenges facing small states. He used the metaphor that I will remember forever. He said that if you opened a bottle of whiskey and throw her into the pool, then gradually whiskey mixed with water, and as a result, both inside and outside is the same. Whiskey, might have changed the taste of the water in the pool, but lost its uniqueness and therefore has lost its meaning. You want to keep what's inside the bottle, other than the fact that in the pool. We can easily do this if we do not uncork the bottle. Then, if the bottle is broken, the whiskey will be whiskey. But if the bottle tightly closed, it does not affect the pool. It has no value to the world outside. It has value only if it is open to the world. "  Two small states, Israel and Singapore, have found something to share with each other in the defense of its unique bottle in a large global pool.

Moshe Dayan and Ken Goh Swee at a diplomatic reception, Singapore, May 5, 1979. A toast to friendship.
 
 
Sources:
  1. Lee Kuan Yew, "The Singapore Story: From Third World - in the first (1965 - 2000)."
  2. Tim Huxley, «Defending the Lion City: The Armed Forces of Singapore».
  3. "So Israel has created an army of defense of Singapore," Amnon Barzilai, "Haaretz", 07/16/2004 ("Kah ikima Israel et CVA and AGANA-le-Singapore").
  4. Eitan Haber, Ze'ev Schiff, "Dictionary of the Yom Kippur War" ("Lexicon milhemet Yom Kippur").
  5. Eitan Haber, Ze'ev Schiff, "Dictionary of the security of Israel" ("Lexicon bitahon le-Yisrael").
  6. Encyclopedia "by IDF combat arms" ("IDF beyul Kheilo").
  7. Anniversary album "Safety 50", editor Nachman Shai ("Bitahon 50").
  8. «The Singapore Armed Forces Commemorative Book 1981», Ministry of Defence, Singapore.
  9. Moshe Yegar, "For a long trip to Asia - a chapter on the history of diplomacy in Israel" ("A-a-Masa Aroha le Assia - Perek BE-a-Toldos diplomacy Shel Israel").
  10. Arik Henig, "Fuad - against all odds" ("Fuad - keneged kol-blackjack").
  11. Moshe Sharett, "Sailing to Asia" ("wave-Asiya blah").
  12. Yitzhak Rabin, "Service Record" ("Pinkas Sherut").
  13. Materials Jane's Information Group.
  14. Directory «Jane's Fighting Ships 2004-2005».
  15. Tim Huxley, «Singapore and the Revolution in Military Affairs».
  16. Desmond Ball, «Signals intelligence (SIGINT) in Singapore», unpublished paper quoted in Huxley, «Singapore and the RMA».
  17. LTC Chan Kim Yin, COL Sukhmohinder Singh, MAJ Regena Ramaya, Lim Kwee Hoon, «Spirit and System: Leadership Development for a Third Generation SAF».
  18. www.mindef.gov.sg - Ministry of Defence of Singapore.
  19. www.cia.gov
  20. http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/9932/index.html - The Unofficial Homepage SAF Armour.
  21. http://www.geocities.com/mindef123/index.html - Structure & Units of SAF.
  22. http://www.moe.gov.sg/ - Ministry of Education of Singapore.
  23. http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/sgtoc.html - Library of Congress Country Studies.
  24. http://www.nhb.gov.sg/ - National Heritage Board.
  25. http://www.sipri.org/ - Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  26. http://www.tau.ac.il/jcss/ - The Jaffee Centre for Strategic Studies.
  27. http://openacademy.mindef.gov.sg/OpenAcademy/SAFTI% 20MI / - SAFTI Military Institute.
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  29. http://www.mti.gov.sg/ - Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore.
  30. http://www.singapore-window.org/
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  33. http://www.burmalibrary.org/
  34. http://meria.idc.ac.il/ - The Middle East Review of International Affairs.
  35. http://www.weltpolitik.net/
  36. http://www.arcuk.org/ - Arms Reduction Coalition.
  37. http://www.caat.org.uk/ - Campaign Against Arms Trade.
  38. http://www.f-16.net/
  39. http://www.airforce-technology.com/
  40. http://www.israeli-weapons.com/
  41. http://rspas.anu.edu.au/sdsc/ - The Strategic and Defence Studies Centre, The Australian National University.
  42. http://www.globalsecurity.org/
  43. http://www.siirdf.com/ - Singapore-Israel Industrial R & D Foundation.
  44. http://www.totaldefence.org.sg/
  45. http://www.mfa.gov.il/ - Israeli Foreign Ministry.
  46. http://www.defence.gov.au/
  47. http://www.itnarchive.com/
  48. Newspaper "Yediot Ahronot", "Haaretz", "Maariv", "Globes", "Jerusalem Post".