[LIVE] NDP 2025: Singapore celebrates independence with SG60 National Day Parade

Key Concepts

NDP 2025, SG60 (Singapore's 60th birthday), Majula Singapura (Onward Singapore), Padang, Marina Bay, Jump of Unity, Red Lions, Naval Diving Unit (NDU), Combined Schools Marching Band, Total Defence, Mobile Column, SG60 NDP Show, Our People Our Diversity, Our Future Our Aspirations, Learning from those who have come before us, National Pledge, National Anthem.

NDP 2025 Introduction

Angela Lim welcomes viewers to NDP 2025, Singapore's 60th birthday celebration, broadcast live from the Padang and expanded for the first time to Marina Bay. 27,000 spectators are present at the Padang. The theme is "Majula Singapura," encouraging the audience to write wishes on placards. Live screenings are held at Marina Bay waterfront locations with water floats, performances on a mobile floating stage, and synchronized city skyline displays.

Pre-Parade Segment: Jump of Unity

The Jump of Unity features the Republic of Singapore Navy's elite naval divers and the Red Lions.

Naval Divers

• Seven naval divers jump from an H225 helicopter at 6,000 ft, free-falling for 3 seconds.
• They deploy parachutes at 1,500 m above water, landing in the water at the Padang drop zone marked by six buoys.
• The Combat Diver Course, launched in 1987, spans 22 weeks, including land navigation, boat handling, underwater confidence tests, sea obstacle courses (sea circuit, sea swim), and Hell Week.
• The Naval Diving Unit (NDU) consists of five squadrons and one school specializing in explosive ordinance disposal, underwater demolition, maritime security operations, and combatant craft operations.
• The divers wear 60 kg of combat gear during the operational jump.
• They adopt a combat landing formation, landing in the water simultaneously and recovering parachutes within 6 minutes for a synchronized salute.

Red Lions

• Seven Red Lions jump from an RSAF C-130 Hercules aircraft at 10,000 ft.
• They perform a ring formation during free fall and a bomb burst formation at 6,000 ft.
• The Red Lions reach speeds of up to 195 km/h.
• The Padang drop zone measures 108x78 m, requiring landing from one direction amidst spectators, the National Gallery, trees, light displays, and skyscrapers.
• Jumpers must have completed a minimum of 500 jumps.
• The Red Lions deploy parachutes at different heights to create a canopy stack, symbolizing unity, cooperation, and teamwork.
• Notable Red Lions mentioned: Master Warrant Officer Shuing Singh (1,085 jumps), First Warrant Officer Galvin Chan (942 jumps), Second Warrant Officer Eq Yong (532 jumps), Second Warrant Officer Billy Lim (594 jumps), Second Warrant Officer Boon (980 jumps), Second Warrant Officer Sandy Wong (700 jumps), First Warrant Officer Eugene Cho (1,550 jumps).
• The Red Lions were officially inaugurated in 1996, comprising commandos, naval divers, and members from the Special Operations Task Force.

Reflection on 60 Years and Combined Schools Marching Band

The segment reflects on Singapore's achievements over 60 years, starting from wishes and dreams. 60 years ago, Mr. Lee Kwan Yew initiated the band project, leading to over 200 bands in Singapore today. The Combined Schools Marching Band from Tanjong Katong Secondary School, Hiwa Secondary School, and Westing Secondary School performs, led by ME5 Ignatius Wang.

Wishes for Singapore

Various individuals express their wishes for Singapore, including embracing culture, creating safe online spaces, ensuring quality healthcare, powering the future sustainably, preserving heritage, recognizing diverse definitions of success, working towards full potential, building a stronger and united Singapore, and living a positive and unstoppable life. Spectators pen down their wishes on placards.

Parade and Ceremony

The parade regimenal sergeant major is Senior Warrant Officer Lim Chair Hui. The parade marks the Singapore Armed Forces's 60th anniversary. The parade includes contingents from the Singapore Army, Navy, Air Force, SCF Volunteer Corps, Singapore Police Force, Singapore Civil Defense Force, and uniformed youth organizations. 18 civilian contingents represent the social and economic sectors. The parade commander takes over command from the parade regimenal sergeant major.

Regimental Colors and Gun Salute

The parade includes 36 regimental colors, four state colors, and five guard of honor contingents. The colors symbolize the institution's history, honor, and tradition. The gun salute is executed by the 24th Battalion Singapore Artillery at Merlion Park using M3G floating rafts operated by the 35th Battalion Singapore Combat Engineers.

Guard of Honor Inspection

The parade commander is Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Ferdos bid Muhammad Gazali. Four singers (Pavey, Hea, Kaye, and Shai) lead a medley of familiar favorites. The president inspects the Guard of Honor contingents from the Army (First Commando Battalion), Navy (Naval Diving Unit), Air Force (Air Power Generation Command), Digital and Intelligence Service, Singapore Police Force (Training Command), and Singapore Civil Defense Force.

Aerial Tribute

Six F-15 SG Eagles execute a fly past, with two aircraft performing a full afterburner climb. Four F-16 Fighting Falcons perform a diamond formation and a diamond cross maneuver.

March Past

The march past is led by the colors party, followed by the six guard of honor contingents, SAF and Home Team contingents, uniformed groups, and social-economic organizations. The combined band comprises members from the SAF Central Band, SPF band, Singapore NCC Command Band, and NPCC band, led by Military Expert 5 Ignatius Wong.

Mobile Column 2025

The mobile column returns, themed "Our Strength, Our People, Our Future," integrating land, air, and maritime assets. The mobile column commander is Lieutenant Colonel Alex Chan, mounted on the Leopard 2 SG main battle tank.

Defending Our Nation

The segment showcases the SAF's combat platforms, including armored fighting vehicles, Hunter armored fighting vehicles, A330 MRT, F-16s, G550 aircraft, Terra, Belwix, light strike vehicles, M3G, high mobility artillery rocket system, howitzers, signal vehicles, combat service support vehicles, ASA 30, and Spider ground-based air defense missile systems. The Navy's combatant craft medium and unmanned surface vessel are featured. RSAF helicopters (S70B Hawk, H64D Apaches, H225M, CH47 Chinook) participate.

Securing Our Singapore

The segment showcases the coordinated defense capabilities of the SAF and Home Team, including police Coast Guard vessels, rapid response fire vessels, MPA patrol craft, military police, SCEDF, traffic police, SCF's Peacekeeper, SPF's emergency response team, tactical assault and tactical strike vehicles, SCEDF's electric pump ladder, and seventh-generation ambulance.

Generation to Generation

The segment emphasizes generational commitment to defense, featuring veterans from SAF and Home Team, including 95-year-old Staff Sergeant Bua K and current and future generations of SAF and Home Team officers.

SG60 NDP Show

The SG60 NDP show, planned over 1.5 years, features an expanded canvas at Marina Bay.

Act 1: Our People, Our Diversity

The act celebrates Singapore's diverse society with performances by Charlie Lim and Kit Chan ("Here We Are"), and Electrical ("What Do You See?").

Act 2: Our Future, Our Aspirations

The act invites consideration of a kinder, more inclusive future, featuring artists with disabilities and performances by Hea Azati and Maya Dance Theater.

Act 3: Learning from Those Who Have Come Before Us

The act centers on learning from past generations, featuring giant inflatables and a combined performance by Benjamin King and Raheem Rahim ("Not Alone").

Act 4

The act features stories of inspiring Singaporeans, including athletes like Lloyd Balberg, entrepreneurs like Nani Anisa, and youth workers like Eldridge Jai Kishan. Drummers from various locations perform in unison.

Majula Moment

The show concludes with the National Pledge and National Anthem. President Thman Shamogaratnam takes his leave, thanking performers and participants.

Conclusion

Angela Lim concludes the broadcast, thanking viewers and emphasizing unity and hope for the future. The broadcast ends with a final performance of "Here We Are."