Quora Answer: Why is Singapore Able to Manufacture Weapons While Its Neighbours Have to Import Them?

The following is my answer to a Quora question: “Why is Singapore able to make its own weapons while its neighbours have to import them?”

This is not true.  ASEAN nations have always been cognisant of the fact that they have been too reliant on arms purchases.  During the Konfrontasi, Sweden’s Bofors AB halted deliveries of armaments.  This highlighted the vulnerability of depending on external suppliers for everything.  Currently, ASEAN nations are wary of Chinese claims in the South China Sea.  China has territorial disputes with the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Brunei.  This is the incentive for them to modernise, and build up an indigenous defence capability.

Indonesia has a wide variety of programmes, from an indigenous radar system, to new patrol craft, to a proposed transport aircraft better able to land and take-off on rough island airstrips.  Malaysia is collaborating with the French to develop and deploy coastal aircraft.  Thailand is looking to develop an indigenous naval air wing.  Vietnam is looking at upgrading their logistics and avionics capabilities.  Aside from Brunei, Cambodia, and Laos; every member of ASEAN is in some form of major military build-up, whether it is force modernisation, weapons upgrading, or systems development.  And they are all developing, or have developed some indigenous weapons systems.

Singapore is slightly different in that it is not in a modernisation phase.  Its military is in a doctrine development and integration of next generation technologies.  That is what being wealthy affords us.  Singapore is one of the largest arms exporters in the world for small arms and small-ticket items.  On some reports, we are the fourth largest weapons exporter in the world, which is no mean feat considering the size of every other country on that list.  Singapore does not primarily develop weapons because we are in need of them, being the most militarised state in the region.  Singapore develops weapons because it is an industry that is also geared for export.  It is a means to generate economic growth.  Comparing Singapore’s arms industry to Malaysia, for example, is as misleading as comparing Malaysia’s car industry to ours.  They choose to sell passenger cars.  We sell infantry fighting vehicles.  Different industry focus, different market.