2007/05 - Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command (UC) underscores the SAF’s growing emphasis on the development of unmanned capabilities for its operations. Its main role is to manage daily UAV flight operations and training standards, and drive the development of unmanned systems capability and surveillance support for the SAF. UC was first inaugurated on 25 May 2007 by Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean. The Command was reorganised on 30 April 2015 in order to play a bigger role in exploiting the air domain for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance, as well as strengthen the SAF’s capability to generate actionable intelligence. UC includes the UAV Group, Operations Development Group, Imagery Exploitation Group, and Air Engineering and Logistics Group, as well as 801 and 811 Squadrons.

Minister for Defence Teo Chee Hean (centre) at the inauguration ceremony of UC.

“The inauguration of UAV Command today is an important milestone. It will spearhead the development of the SAF's UAV capabilities and further strengthen the integrated operational capabilities of the 3rd Generation SAF”

Teo Chee Hean, Minister for Defence, 2007 at the inauguration ceremony of UC

“Everyone can build a drone, but what matters is the sensors you fit on them and one’s ability to use them in a network where the information they gather makes sense.”

Chris Pocock, Defence Editor, Aviation International News, 2006 on the operational potential of UAVs

“If we bridge the operation-intellgence divide well, we will conduct operations with timely and accurate intelligence updates, and we will proactively gather intelligence with a thorough understanding of the information required.”

BG Ng Chee Khern, Chief of Air Force, 2007 on how UAVs can improve the SAF’s mission effectiveness

The Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Command crest.