Singapore, Feb. 28 -- Singapore is ramping up its deployment of uncrewed systems and restructuring its armed forces to address a shrinking pool of potential military recruits amid demographic shifts.

Singaporean Defence Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen described the declining number of service members as the "greatest internal challenge" facing the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). To tackle this, Singapore is increasing automation and assigning conscripts and national reservists, known as "NSmen," to roles aligned with their civilian expertise to boost efficiency and effectiveness.

The Defence Ministry is leading efforts to mitigate the impact of an aging population on force strength. The Navy, for example, expects a 30% decrease in personnel by 20...