Singapore NDP 2020, a celebration totally unlike others. Can anyone recall NDP 2009? which was also held when our nation was in its deepest recession since independence during the Influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. It’s no surprise there were calls to postpone or even cancel the NDP this year.
The SAF Red Lions @Toh Guan
This pandemic has presented our greatest challenge ever. It has impacted our lives, livelihoods and brought the entire country to almost a standstill. But the NDP should not be cancelled, as doing so is like surrendering to the virus. We must unite and persevere. We will prevail.
The RSAF C130 arrived on time and ‘delivered’ the Red Lions. The small landing zone and buildings around it necessitated a lower attitude air drop.
One of my fave pictures of the Red Lions, with both banners ‘One Singapore’ and ‘Our Heart for Singapore’ in the same frame.
A rare opportunity to see approaching paratrooper with the backdrop of residential building.
A Red Lion coming in to a perfect landing on the small landing zone.
The Red Lions Commanding Officer, Lt.Col Arnold Low and his teams greeting supporters and spectators at the landing zone.
Aerial Fly Past by the RSAF
A state flag flypast, with the Chinook lifting the world’s largest state flag in aerial display, flanked by two AH-64 Apache attack helicopters.
Another rare experience for all heartlanders who can observe the RSAF jets right from their windows.
The RSAF F15SG all-weather superiority fighter aircraft in a delta formation making their way around Singapore heartlands with the major medical institutions as the focal point.
The Mobile Column
SAF personnel reminding spectators on safe distancing measures. Not a practical directive considering the space constraints and crowd volume.
Not quite the social distancing that the event organiser would hope for. But at least the mask wearing should minimize the chance of virus spreading.
Our Singapore NDP 2020 version of the “royal rumble”, the Leopard 2 main battle tank, leading the mobile column convoy of military and essential service assets.
The Bionix Infantry Fighting Vehicle, one of a series of tracked Singaporean armoured fighting vehicles developed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics. It is the 1st indigenous armoured vehicle to be developed in Southeast Asia.
The Singapore-designed Light Strike Vehicle Mark II is a light fast attack vehicle which entered service since 1998.
The latest Emergency Response Team Vehicle of the Singapore Police Force. This next-generation asset for Ground Response Force (GRF) operations, is a collaboration between the SPF and the Home Team Science and Technology Agency (HTX).
The 5th Generation Pump Ladder, which is the workhorse fire engine of the SCDF. It carries 2,400 litres of water and 1,200 litres of foam, along with other rescue and firefighting equipment aside from being designed for quick set up of decontamination facilities for chemical incident.
The Military Police mobile outriders at the tail-end of the mobile column, one of the five routes – north, south, west, north-east and south-east areas of Singapore, each featuring 13 or 14 assets and 60 to 70 participants, including the mobile column crew, with about 100 front-line workers and essential workers aboard the vehicles.
Conclusion
The Singapore NDP 2020 is certainly a celebration that is reflective of our nation adaptability to the pandemic that has swept throughout the world. A strong testament of our nation resilience. Let’s hope our next NDP will be back to the status quo. For other events in Singapore, please refer to this link.
Footnote: All pictures used are copyrighted and all rights reserved to Jensen Chua Photography The opinion expressed is factual, objective and that of the author.