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Purchases part of SAF's bid to maintain tech edge: Expert
Published on Mar 20, 2012
Singapore has emerged as the world's fifth-biggest weapons importer in the last five years, says the latest report of a Swedish security and military think-tank. -- MY PAPER PHOTO: JAMIE KOH
By Jermyn Chow, Defence Correspondent
Singapore has emerged as the world's fifth-biggest weapons importer in the last five years, says the latest report of a Swedish security and military think-tank.
With its imports accounting for 4 per cent of the world's total spent on arms imports, Singapore trails only four countries - India (10 per cent), South Korea (6 per cent), and Pakistan and China (tied at 5 per cent).
The annual report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) also said the top five countries' imports make up nearly a third - 30 per cent - of arms sales.
Defence specialists The Straits Times spoke to said they were not surprised by Singapore's ranking as it has, in the last few years, acquired 110 Leopard main battle tanks, 24 F-15SG fighter jets, 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System trucks and six S-70B Sikorsky Seahawk naval helicopters - all big-ticket items.
Published on Mar 20, 2012
Singapore has emerged as the world's fifth-biggest weapons importer in the last five years, says the latest report of a Swedish security and military think-tank. -- MY PAPER PHOTO: JAMIE KOH
By Jermyn Chow, Defence Correspondent
Singapore has emerged as the world's fifth-biggest weapons importer in the last five years, says the latest report of a Swedish security and military think-tank.
With its imports accounting for 4 per cent of the world's total spent on arms imports, Singapore trails only four countries - India (10 per cent), South Korea (6 per cent), and Pakistan and China (tied at 5 per cent).
The annual report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri) also said the top five countries' imports make up nearly a third - 30 per cent - of arms sales.
Defence specialists The Straits Times spoke to said they were not surprised by Singapore's ranking as it has, in the last few years, acquired 110 Leopard main battle tanks, 24 F-15SG fighter jets, 18 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System trucks and six S-70B Sikorsky Seahawk naval helicopters - all big-ticket items.
