President Tharman observes DIS open-source monitoring operations and commends SAF personnel for supporting national security.
Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam visited the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS) Open Source Unit (OSU) this afternoon, in his inaugural visit to a Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) unit. The visit provided an overview of the DIS’s intelligence capabilities and the role of open-source monitoring in supporting military operations and national security.
During the visit, President Tharman received briefings on the DIS and its Joint Intelligence Command (JIC), including its role in providing accurate, relevant and timely intelligence to support early warning and decision-making for SAF operations.
He also observed demonstrations of the OSU’s monitoring operations and interacted with service personnel, including Full-Time National Servicemen (NSFs) and Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen). President Tharman commended the personnel for their professionalism and dedication, highlighting their contribution to addressing an increasingly complex and rapidly evolving security environment.
Speaking after the visit, President Tharman said: “The DIS plays a more important role than ever, as digital threats can only be expected to grow in frequency, scale and sophistication. I commend our service personnel for their efforts to continually stay abreast of developments and keep the nation safe.”
The visit was hosted by Chief of Digital and Intelligence Service and Director of Military Intelligence Major-General Lee Yi-Jin. Chief of Defence Force Vice Admiral Aaron Beng and other senior SAF officers were also present.
The OSU supports the SAF by monitoring news and information relating to global military and security developments, as well as natural disasters in the region. Its work helps the SAF maintain situational awareness of developments in the evolving information landscape, enabling commanders to make timely and informed decisions in response to events at home and abroad.
Through its monitoring capabilities, the unit also contributes to wider national security efforts. The visit highlighted the operational role of the DIS and its personnel in helping Singapore respond to emerging digital and security threats.
Source: MINDEF
