Today In 2000, The Defence Science And Technology Agency Was Formed

The Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) is the tech backbone of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), providing cutting-edge military and defence innovations to make our Singapore arm a formidable fighting force.

The organisation was formed 25 years ago today (15 Mar 2000) under the purview of the Ministry of Defence.

From humble beginnings to high-tech marvels

DSTA’s roots go way back to 1966, when just three engineers in MINDEF’s Logistics Department were responsible for testing SAF equipment – from uniforms to rifles. Over time, the team, which became the Defence Technology Community (DTC), grew. Eventually, eight entities under the DTC merged to form the DSTA we know today.

Game-changing innovations

DSTA has delivered some seriously cool projects, and not all of them have been about military defence. Many have played a huge role in keeping Singapore safe. These are a few of DSTA's many innovations:

• Air C2 Hub (2000) - The Air C2 Hub was one of DSTA’s first big projects, developed to track aircraft movement around Singapore’s airspace and flag any suspicious activity. By crunching massive amounts of data from radar and other sources, it helped the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF) make quick, informed decisions.
• SAR 21 (2000) - To most, mention of the SAF brings to mind soldiers with the SAR 21 (Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st century). The rifle was customised for Singaporean soldiers, and DSTA helped develop its Laser Aiming Device to boost accuracy and performance, improving a soldier’s response at night.
• SARS Fever Screening (2003) - DSTA also played a huge role in Singapore’s fight against SARS. Together with ST Electronics, DSTA converted military thermal imagers into the world’s first infrared-based fever screening system. Within a week, this system was deployed at airports and checkpoints. It even caught the attention of "Time" magazine, which listed it as one of the coolest inventions of 2003.

• The Marina Bay Floating Platform (2007) - Ever watched National Day Parade at the Marina Bay Floating Platform? Yep, DSTA made that happen! They designed and built the world’s largest floating stage, which has hosted everything from concerts, sporting events, and the BMT passing out parade ceremony.
• Underground Ammunition Facility (2008) - DSTA also built the world’s first underground ammunition storage facility in an urban area. It’s so safe and efficient that even NATO adopted its design standards.

Forging ahead

As DSTA celebrates 25 years of innovation, they’re looking ahead to the next frontier in defence tech.

In Feb 2024, the DSTA unveiled the Maritime Security Unmanned Surface Vessel. It is Singapore’s first autonomous maritime patrol vessel. With AI-powered navigation and real-time surveillance capabilities, it enables Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) operators to remotely plan patrols, track vessels of interest, and respond to security incidents immediately.

In July 2024, the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle 6940E-SG (aka the Light Machine Gun or LMG) was delivered by a programme team from DSTA. It replaced the old SAW Ultimax 100, offering better accuracy, reliability, and flexibility. It’s already being rolled out across SAF units.

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