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.
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.
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.
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.
Chew Men Leong is a Singaporean former two-star rear-admiral who served as Chief of Navy between 2007 and 2011.
The Victory-class corvettes are multi-purpose corvettes based on the MGB 62 design by Germany's Lürssen shipyard for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The six ships were commissioned between 1990 and 1991 and form the Eighth Flotilla of the RSN.
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.
Bey Soo Khiang is a Singaporean former lieutenant-general who served as Chief of Defence Force between 1995 and 2000. He was the first Chief of Air Force to serve as Chief of Defence Force.
The Chief of Defence Force is the head of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF),who holds the rank of Lieutenant-General or Vice-Admiral. The Chief of Defence Force also serves as the aide-de-camp to the president of Singapore. The current Chief of Defence Force is Aaron Beng.
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 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.
Hoo Cher Mou is a Singaporean former major-general who served as Chief of Air Force between 2013 and 2016. He was the first non-pilot to serve as Chief of Air Force.
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.
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).
