New training ground worth SGD 900million to give soldiers realistic urban combat experience: Parliament

A new training ground will be built in western Singapore in 88ha area. The main reason behind this initiative is to let soldiers hone their urban fighting skills in real-life settings such as warehouses, high-rise building, and even an MRT station with multiple exits.

Aerial view of the Safti City
Aerial view of the Safti City. Photo courtesy: Mindef

Ng Eng Hen, Defence Minister said that this new place called Safti City, which is as big as the Bishan town will allow soldiers to get training in a dense urban environment that matches Singapore’s landscape when it is completed in the west of the country in 10 years.

"Safti City will take our NS training to a much higher level of realism and effectiveness," he said.

Costing about S$900 million, Safti City will be outfitted with video cameras and instruments that will instantly track the actions of individual soldiers and units.

The first-of-its-kind, Safti City will provide a realistic experience of fighting in a concrete jungle like Singapore.