DEFENDING
THE
EXPANDING
ROLES
NATION'S
IN
WIDER
DEFENDING
THE NATION’S SOVEREIGNTY:
EXPANDING ROLES IN WIDER HORIZONS
SOVEREIGNTY:
HORIZONS
A
DEFENCE
WHITE PAPER
2011
DEFENCE
WHITE PAPER
MAXIMISING FORCE EFFECTIVENESS
Preparedness judgments must, however, balance the need for readiness to deploy against the more
“In addition to measures to gain knowledge, honing skills, acquiring equipment and building infrastructure,
/ also like to emphasise here the importance of posessing effective leadership. Leaders must have vision to make improvements,
apart from having the ability to overcome any weaknesses.”
fundamental training, exercising and skills development essential to high levels of professionalism
and effectiveness across a range of possible tasks. To achieve that balance, initial response
elements have been identified within each of the Services able to be deployed at short notice
should circumstances require.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Titah (Royal Speech)
in conjunction with the Royal Brunei Armed Forces 47th Anniversary Celebration on 31st May 2008
The enduring characteristics of Brunei Darussalam’s strategic geography, the breadth of potential tasks,
the compact size of the force and the need to be able to respond to developments at short notice place
a premium on maximising force effectiveness. Preparedness and sustainability, the well targeted
employment of technology, and a high level of professionalism are essential to achieving that outcome.
Those high readiness assets are assigned to the Joint Force Commander who maintains the
national surveillance picture, exercises operational command, and is the initial point of contact
for other national and regional forces. The primary force elements currently maintained at full
preparedness are:
Preparedness
* An infantry company and associated tactical and support elements.
In the contemporary environment, an early response is often critical to operational success. It can:
" An offshore and an inshore patrol vessel (either or both of which may be conducting national
patrol operations).
" Alleviate the most severe effects of a disaster.
" Aflight of four medium lift helicopters.
" Engage a fleeting target.
This responsibility is to be rotated on a regular basis within the major force elements. Where a
particular asset is deployed for current operations beyond the nation and its immediate
surrounds, and/or is unavailable for rapid redeployment, an equivalent force element will be
brought to full preparedness.
" Ease tensions between parties.
" Demonstrate national resolve.
* Allow particular operational outcomes to be achieved in the most resource efficient manner.
Tangible commitments to regional cooperation whether for humanitarian purposes or to counter illegal
transnational activity must be delivered quickly.
As some deployments, particularly those for humanitarian and disaster relief, may require
greater strategic reach, standing agreements will be developed with both the national carrier and
regional partners to facilitate those commitments.
Technology and Industry
Preparedness is not just a question of the readiness of equipment. It involves the availability of
personnel, up-to-date training and operational concepts, dedicated combat support, equipment and
supplies, and mobility of assets. The Balanced Scorecard developed by the Office of Strategic
Management of the Ministry of Defence as a defence management tool ensures that the RBAF remains
at the highest level of readiness to respond to any situation.
Important benchmarks have already been put in place to measure and enhance the RBAF’s
preparedness. They test the availability of the various force elements to be able to respond to more
immediate challenges as well as their capacity to be enhanced for more complex and demanding
operations. The priority for several of the
capability enhancements identified in this White
Paper stems from those judgments.
The capacity to sustain forces once deployed is
essential.
With
respect
to ground
force
deployments,
the
provision
of
support
services and, during extended commitments,
the rotation of personnel is critical. For naval
and air platforms, operational reliability and the
ability to maintain rates of effort are critical. A
comprehensive
developed.
logistic support
plan
is being
Developments in technology are significantly improving the ability of military forces to integrate
their operations, identify targets and apply fire power precisely. In a compact force, those
qualities are potentially a valuable multiplier of combat power. Leading edge systems generally
attract, however, a substantial resource premium.
At the same time, proven technologies often promise enhanced
areas
such
as
surveillance
and
information
technologies,
reliability. Civil specifications in
including
communications
and
networking, are increasingly able to satisfy priority operational requirements at a modest cost.
They can also be more easily supported by the national industry base. Defence must be a smart
buyer.
To balance these
design
and
new
imperatives
capability
in operational
specifications,
Brunei
Darussalam
has_ strengthened
its
capacity in defence science and technology.
" The Centre of Science, Technology Research
and Development has introduced important
expertise, promoting awareness of current
and
prospective
developments.
Its work
supports informed judgments of options for
satisfying operational
needs
and the
interrelationship between performance and
cost.
O11