Singapore Sends Its Soldiers To War Armed With iPads

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Image courtesy of Mike Licht on Flickr

While the most war many of us will see on our iPads is a spot of Angry Birds, Singapore’s got bigger plans for Apple’s tablet: they’re issuing an iPad to each new recruit to use in action on the battlefield.

The Defence Ministry for Singapore revealed today that it plans to issue 8,000 iPads to new recruits this year that will enable soldiers to collect photos & videos of the battlefield which can be uploaded to the Singapore Armed Forces’ online platform. The device will also allow soldiers to better communicate with each other and with their commanders through a live messaging system and group chat.

The SAF is working with private contractors to create secure applications for military use which will greatly expand the iPad’s capabilities for its soldiers. The devices will be handed out to new recruits this year and will then be assigned to other soldiers throughout 2012.

Defence chief Neo Kian Hong said:

By exploiting the use of popular and current information and communications technology, we are able to harness our advantage of today’s technologically savvy servicemen.

TUAW notes, however, that Singapore isn’t the first country to issue the iPad to its military. The U.S. Marine Corp recently issued the devices to its aviators to replace paper-based navigation systems, and in the U.K. soldiers are using the device to train for combat before they are sent to Afghanistan.

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