The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the military services of the Republic of Singapore,responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A military component of the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF),the armed forces have four service branches:the Army,the Navy,the Air Force,and the Digital and Intelligence Service. An integrated force,it is one of the most capable,robust,technologically sophisticated and powerful militaries in Southeast Asia and the surrounding regions. The SAF is headed by the chief of defence force,appointed by the president of Singapore,on the advice of the Cabinet.
The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the maritime service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) responsible for defending the country against any seaborne threats and as a guarantor of its sea lines of communications. The RSN traces its origins to the Royal Navy when Singapore was still a crown colony of the British Empire. The service was formally established in 1967,two years after its independence from Malaysia in 1965,and had undergone a substantial modernisation ever since –which has led them into becoming the most powerful navy in Southeast Asia.
The Singapore Army is the land service branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF). The largest of the four branches of the SAF,the Singapore Army traces its origins to the 1st Battalion,Singapore Infantry Regiment,which was formed in 1957,when Singapore was still under British colonial rule. After Singapore's independence on 9 August 1965,the Singapore Army Bill was passed in Parliament on 23 December 1965,and National Service (NS) was subsequently introduced in 1967. Mostly made up of conscripts,the Singapore Army can mobilise all operationally-ready military reservists in the event of war or national exigencies.
The Formidable-class multi-role stealth frigates are multi-mission derivatives of the French Navy's La Fayette-class frigate with the Republic of Singapore Navy. The six ships form the First Flotilla of the Navy.
Lim Kim Choon is a Singaporean civil servant and former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2001 and 2006.
Ng Yat Chung is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2003 and 2007.
The Endurance-class tank landing ships (LST) are the largest class of ships in the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). They were designed and built by Singapore Technologies (ST) Marine to replace the old County-class tank landing ships. The four ships form the Third Flotilla of the RSN.
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has five rank schemes for active and reservist personnel,with a sixth for the auxiliaries of the SAF Volunteer Corps. The SAF has a unique rank structure as an integrated force,ranks are the same in the Singapore Army,the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF),and the Digital and Intelligence Service (DIS).
Singapore has had an history of armed conflict and personnel dating to the colonial period.
Desmond Kuek Bak Chye is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2007 and 2010.
Ronnie Tay is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2003 and 2007.
Winston Choo Wee Leong is a former Singaporean diplomat and lieutenant-general who served as Director,General Staff between 1974 and 1976,and then Chief of the General Staff between 1976 and 1990,and later Chief of Defence Force between 1990 and 1992. He was the longest-serving head of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
Vivian Balakrishnan is a Singaporean politician,diplomat and former ophthalmologist who has been serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2015. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP),he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Cashew division of Holland–Bukit Timah GRC since 2006,and previously the Ulu Pandan division of Holland–Bukit Panjang GRC between 2001 and 2006.
Ng Chee Peng is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2011 and 2014.
Ng Chee Meng is a Singaporean politician,union leader and former lieutenant-general who has been serving as Secretary-General of the National Trades Union Congress since 2018. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP),he was the Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Punggol North division of Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC between 2015 and 2020. He served as Minister for Education (Schools) between 2015 and 2018,and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office between 2018 and 2020.
Perry Lim Cheng Yeow is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2015 and 2018.
Lai Chung Han is a Singaporean civil servant and former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2014 and 2017. He has been serving as Permanent Secretary for Education since 2019.
Melvyn Ong Su Kiat is a Singaporean retired lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2018 and 2023.
RSS Supreme (73) is the sixth ship of the Formidable-class stealth frigate of the Republic of Singapore Navy.
Aaron Beng Yao Cheng is a Singaporean vice-admiral who has been serving as Chief of Defence Force since 2023. Prior to his appointment as Chief of Defence Force,he served as Chief of Navy between 2020 and 2023. He is the first naval officer to serve as Chief of Defence Force,and the first to hold the rank of Vice-Admiral in the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).
