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 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.
Ng Yat Chung is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2003 and 2007.
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).
Desmond Kuek Bak Chye is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2007 and 2010.
Neo Kian Hong is a Singaporean civil servant and former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2010 and 2013.
The Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera) is a decoration awarded to members of the Singapore Armed Forces for exceptionally distinguished performance or extraordinary service,or the furtherance of links with overseas forces.
Ng Chee Khern is a Singaporean civil servant and former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2006 and 2009. He previously served as Permanent Secretary under the Prime Minister's Office,and Chairman of the Government Technology Agency. He was appointed Permanent Secretary (Manpower) in April 2022.
Lim Chuan Poh is a Singaporean civil servant,diplomat and former lieutenant-general who is currently the Singaporean Ambassador to Israel. He previously served as the Chief of Defence Force between 2000 and 2003. After leaving the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) in 2003,Lim served as Permanent Secretary for Education until 2007 before serving as Chairman of the Agency for Science,Technology and Research (A*STAR),a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry. After his retirement in 2019,Lim was appointed Chairman of the Singapore Food Agency.
The SAF Scholarship,formerly known as the SAF Overseas Scholarship (SAFOS),is a scholarship conferred by the Public Service Commission (PSC). The scholarship is second in prestige to the President's Scholarship.
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.
Melvyn Ong Su Kiat is a Singaporean retired lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 2018 and 2023.
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).
Lew Chuen Hong is a Singaporean former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2017 and 2020.
The Chief of Navy is the head of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN),who holds the rank of Rear-Admiral. The current Chief of Navy is Sean Wat Jianwen,who was appointed on 10 March 2023.
Sean Wat Jianwen is a Singaporean one-star rear-admiral who has been serving as Chief of Navy since 2023.
