| Singapore Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
 Crest of the Singapore Armed Forces | |
 Flag of the Singapore Armed Forces | |
| Motto |
|
| Founded | 9 August 1965; 59 years ago (1965-08-09)[1] |
| Current form | 15 June 1972; 52 years ago (1972-06-15)[2] |
| Service branches | |
| Headquarters | Singapore |
| Leadership | |
| President of Singapore | Tharman Shanmugaratnam |
| Minister for Defence | Vacant |
| Chief of Defence Force | VADMAaron Beng |
| SAF Sergeant Major | CWO Chua Hock Guan |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 17with parental consent, 18without and to serve in combat |
| Conscription | 22–24 months[3] |
| Available for military service | >1,255,902 males, age 18–49 |
| Fit for military service | >2,105,973 males, age 18–49 |
| Reaching military age annually | >52,466 males |
| Active personnel | 51,000[3] |
| Reserve personnel | 252,500[3] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | S$23,400,000,000 (FY2025)[4] USD17.46 billion |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers |
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| Foreign suppliers | |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Singapore |
| Ranks | Singapore Armed Forces ranks |
TheSingapore Armed Forces (SAF) are themilitary of theRepublic of Singapore, responsible for protecting and defending the security interests and the sovereignty of the country. A component of theMinistry of Defence (MINDEF), the armed forces have fourservice branches: theArmy,Navy,Air Force, andDigital and Intelligence Service. Anintegrated force, it is one of the most capable, robust, technologically sophisticated and powerful militaries in the Southeast Asia region.[5] The SAF is headed by thechief of defence force, appointed by thePresident, on the advice of theCabinet.
Since its inception, the SAF has been involved in various operations, both domestically and abroad. These include peacekeeping missions in places such asAfghanistan,Iraq andTimor Leste as well as disaster relief operations in various countries, including the1970 Bhola cyclone,2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami,Hurricane Katrina,2008 Sichuan earthquake,April 2015 Nepal earthquake,Hurricane Harvey, among others.[6][7] In addition, the SAF has assisted theUnited Nations to oversee and supervise the electoral process in countries such asCambodia,Ethiopia,Namibia andSouth Africa.[8]
It has an approximate active strength of over 51,000 full-time personnel and is capable of mobilising over 252,500reservists (also known as National Servicemen, or NSmen) in the event of national exigencies or a full-scale war. It also has a large pool ofconscripts (also known as Full-time National Servicemen, or NSFs) in the active and reserve forces, with about 50,000 reaching military age annually.
In recent years, the SAF has also taken on a more active role in counter-terrorism efforts.[9]
The SAF will celebrate its 60th anniversary on 9 August 2025.[10]
Prior to Singapore attaining its independence as anation state, the British colonial force defended Singapore.[11]
TheSingapore Volunteer Rifle Corps (SVRC) was first created in 1854 as a private organisation, with thegovernor serving as its firstColonel. It was later gazetted in 1857. However, participation in the SVRC was weak and it was disbanded on 16 December 1887 in favour of forming an artillery corps instead.[12] This was to be theSingapore Volunteer Artillery (SVA), which was formed in 1888 to operate the gun emplacements around Singapore,[12] and is also considered to be the predecessor of the artillery formation of the Singapore Armed Forces.[13] In 1901, additional non-artillery units were set up, including a Chinese infantry company, Eurasian infantry company, and the Singapore Volunteer Engineers, leading to the force being renamed as theSingapore Volunteer Corps (SVC). It assisted in suppressing the1915 Singapore Mutiny. In 1921, the SVC was combined with other volunteer forces from Malacca and Penang as theStraits Settlements Volunteer Force (SSVF).[12]
DuringWorld War II the voluntary military forces of Singapore sustained heavy casualties. The voluntary military force of Singapore was reestablished in 1949.[11]
In 1965 an Israeli military advisory team arrived in Singapore, which would remain in the country for the next nine years. Under the guidance of the Israeli military advisory team, the SAF established its organisation, doctrine, training, as well as its equipment, andarsenal. The SAF in Singapore benefited fromconscription and massive public spending. In the mid-1970s, the SAF in Singapore had a force of 300,000 soldiers, including regular soldiers, conscript soldiers, as well as reserve force soldiers. The political purpose of the SAF in Singapore was to pose a reasonable deterrence to the two historically hostile neighbours of Singapore.[14] Singapore became known as the "most heavily armed country on earth" when it purchasedlight tanks,M113armoured personnel carriers,A-4 Skyhawks, andF-5fighter aircraft in the mid-1970s.[15]
In the 1980s the SAF in Singapore armed itself to attain the capability to defend Singapore's maritime lifeline.[16] In the mid-1980s Singapore purchased eightF-16fighter-bombers, demonstrating the intent to maintain the SAF as unrivalled inSoutheast Asia.[15] In the early 1990s the SAF in Singapore attained the military force necessary to defend Singapore up to 1,000 miles at sea, and therefore respond if necessary to any conflict in the region.[14]
Singapore has been described as "a military powerhouse with the best air force and navy in Southeast Asia."[17] Singapore's wealth allows it to acquire and make the best equipment available as well as incorporate high-end technological equipment into its nation's military forces.[17] The SAF is also called "the most technologically advanced armed forces across the Association of Southeast Asian Nation states".[18]
A key recent example was Singapore's decision to acquire fourLockheed Martin's F-35B Joint Strike Fighters, which theUnited States Congress approved, with the option to acquire a further eight more and beyond.[19][20] This acquisition is significant as "Singapore will fly the most advanced fleet of fighters in its region" which reflects its security relationship with theUnited States.[20] Furthermore, Singapore stands out from all the other countries in Southeast Asia with its technological sophistication and equipment that "operates at a very high level of capability" and are "all integrated into a single cohesive fighting force."[17]
Armed Forces Day is commemorated by the SAF annually on 1 July, with aparade held at theSAFTI Military Institute.
On 1 July 2018, the Minister for DefenceNg Eng Hen announced that the SAF would transition from its current third-generation technologies to next-generation technologies by overhauling itsarsenal.[21] On 27 February 2019, the office of Inspector-General of the Armed Forces was set up to ensure that safety protocols are applied and enforced throughout the military following the death ofAloysius Pang, who was the fourth training related fatality in 18 months after 2017.[22]
On 15 March 1986, the six-storeyHotel New World collapsed. SAF soldiers aided in rescue operations, working alongside members of theSingapore Civil Defence Force to remove the rubble. RSAF UH-1H helicopters were on standby at the nearby Farrer Park football field to evacuate rescued victims to the Singapore General Hospital.[23]
On 26 March 1991,Singapore Airlines Flight 117 was hijacked by fourPakistanis en route to Singapore. Upon landing inChangi Airport at 8:15pm SGT, the hijackers demanded the release of severalPakistan People's Party members. Negotiations faltered, and after the hijackers gave their ultimatum to have their demands fulfilled at 6.15am SGT of the following morning,commandos from SAF'sSpecial Operations Force (SOF) stormed the plane, killing all hijackers and rescuing the hostages.[24]
During theSARS outbreak in 2003, SAF paramedics were deployed atChangi Airport to screen incoming passengers from places hit by SARS.[25] The SAF also deployed 220 servicemen with operations such as screening, contact tracing and enforcing home quarantine orders. The team also managed other major operations, such as the quarantine of 1,500 staff from the Institute of Mental Health.[26]
In 2004, the Singapore Armed Forces also responded to the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami.
During theCOVID-19 pandemic since 2020, SAF servicemen were called upon to pack and transport masks, conduct tracing calls, and check compliance with stay home notices.[27] MINDEF personnel also ran the National Call Centre to address public queries on the collection of reusable masks.[28] The SAF also deployed manpower to assist in manning thermal imagery machines at the airport to screen travellers with symptoms.[29][30] The SAF was also involved in managing COVID-19 cases in foreign worker dormitories and at isolation facilities[31][32][33]
Deterrence anddiplomacy have been the fundamental tenets of Singapore's military defence policy. Through the years, the SAF in Singapore has developed extensive links with armed forces from other countries. In recent years, there has also been an increased emphasis onpeacekeeping and international emergency relief operations. Notable are the SAF's contribution to the peacekeeping operations inAfghanistan,East Timor, thePersian Gulf, as well as thedisaster response in the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, the2005 Nias–Simeulue earthquake, the2006 Yogyakarta earthquake,Hurricane Katrina, and the2008 Sichuan earthquake.[citation needed]
Singapore's spending on military hardware has enabled the SAF to advance from a defensive and defeatist "poisoned shrimp" strategy to a forward defence military strategy in tandem with sustainedeconomic growth. Since the 1980s thegovernment of Singapore has maintained the SAF as a modern and technically proficient armed force that is capable ofconventional warfare on land.[15] The SAF's declared mission statement is to "enhance Singapore’s peace and security through deterrence and diplomacy, and should these fail, to secure a swift and decisive victory over the aggressor".[34]
The SAF's policy towardsMalay people, who share religious and ethnic ties with Singapore's largest neighbours, Malaysia and Indonesia, has been a source of controversy over the years. Malays were virtually excluded fromconscription from the beginning of the draft in 1967 until 1977 and, after the policy was eased, were assigned mainly to serve in theSingapore Police Force and theSingapore Civil Defence Force, and not active combat roles.[35]
In 1987,Lee Hsien Loong (then Second Minister for Defence) stated that "If there is a conflict, if the SAF is called to defend the homeland, we do not want to put any of our soldiers in a difficult position where his emotions for the nation may be in conflict with his religion."[36] Military analyst Sean Walsh claimed that "official discrimination against the Malay population remains an open secret".[37] The Ministry of Defence contests the charge, noting that there are "Malay pilots, commandos and air defence personnel" and stating that "the proportion of eligible Malays selected for specialist and officer training is similar to the proportion for eligible non-Malays."[38]
Women are exempt from full-time National Service in Singapore, but can sign on as a career soldier in both combat and non-combat roles.[39] The range of positions available to women has been expanded gradually.[37] In July 2007, the SAF held an exhibition highlighting the contributions of women in the armed forces.[40] In recent years, some women have taken higher positions, such as BGGan Siow Huang, who is the highest ranking female officer and the first female General in the SAF.[41]
In 2014, a governmental Committee to Strengthening NS established aSAF Volunteer Corps (SAFVC).[42] The SAFVC enables women, first generation Permanent Residents and new citizens to contribute to national defence and strengthen support for NS. Volunteers undergo a four-week course to gain basic military skills and values.[43]
Under theEnlistment Act 1970, conscription is mandatory for all "persons subject to [the] act", defined as those who are not less than 16 years and 6 months of age and not more than 40 years of age, with some exemptions and with no specific bias to gender.[44] In practice however, it is only compulsory for all Singaporean men who have reached 18 years of age, and are not deferred or exempted for certain reasons, to be conscripted in military service.
NS was initially three years forcommissioned officers and two years for other ranks, but it was later revised to two years and six months for soldiers with the rank ofCorporal and above, and two years for those with the rank ofLance Corporal or lower. In June 2004, NS was shortened to two years for all Full-time National Servicemen (NSFs), regardless of rank, due to changes in population demographics, manpower requirements and technological advancements. Combat fit NSFs who obtain a silver or gold standard in a physical fitness test have an additional two months reduction, serving 22 months of NS effectively. Upon completion of their NSF stint, servicemen are considered as having reached their Operationally-ready Date (ORD) and are known as Operationally-ready National Servicemen (NSmen). Almost all NSmen go through a 10-year reservist cycle of military training with their assigned unit deployment. Almost all NSmen are obliged to be called up annually for a maximum of 40 days per workyear for national duties, refresher trainings, mobilisations, upgrading courses andindividual physical fitness tests and conditioning, depending on their NS unit deployment.[45]
Prior to enlistment, pre-enlistees (recruits) are required to attend a medical examination (PULHHEEMS) to determine their medical status to assess vocational suitability postings. They will then be issued a "Physical Employment Status" (PES), which will be used as a guideline to determine for which vocation groupings they are deemed suitable.
PES A and PES B1 (combat-fit) recruits go through a nine-weekBasic Military Training (BMT) program, held at theBasic Military Training Centre (BMTC) on the offshore island ofPulau Tekong. Recruits who are consideredobese, are required to attend a 19-week PES Bp BMT weight-loss program. PES B2 formally PES C1 (fit for some combat vocations) recruits will go through a nine-week modified BMT programme at BMTC. PES C and PES E recruits (non-combat-fit) undertake a nine-week modified BMT program in BMTC School V at Kranji Camp II, where serviceman undergoing a four-week modified BMT programme before being deployed to various combat service support vocations such as Admin Support Assistant (ASA), Transport Operator (TO), and Supply Assistant (SA).[46] All servicemen, with the exception commandos, naval divers and service support vocation units, will complete their BMT at BMTC.[47]
Initially,commissioned officers were drawn exclusively from the ranks of Singaporeans who had completed theirGCE A levels or embarked on tertiary studies.[48] While the requirements have since been revised, the SAF has still been criticised for "using a promotion system that is based more on education and scholarships than on proven competence".[37]
Singapore is part of theFive Power Defence Arrangements, whose other members include theUnited Kingdom,Australia,New Zealand andMalaysia. Designed to replace the former defence role of the British in Singapore and Malaysia, the arrangement obliges members to consult in the event of external threat against Malaysia and Singapore. To this end, an Integrated Air Defence System is set up in Butterworth, Malaysia involving the stationing of officers from the 5 countries at its headquarters.
In 1975, PresidentChiang Ching-kuo and Prime MinisterLee Kuan Yew signed an agreement code-named "Project Starlight" (星光計畫, also known as Hsing Kuang), wherein Singaporean troops could conduct training exercises in Taiwan. These exercises, engaging as many as 10,000 troops at any one time, provided officers a chance to simulate wartime conditions more closely and gain experience in the command and control of operations involving several battalions.[49]
Singapore has consistently supported a strongUS military presence in the Asia-Pacific region.[50] In 1990, the US and Singapore signed amemorandum of understanding (MOU) which allows the US access to Singapore facilities atPaya Lebar Air Base and theSembawang wharves. Under the MOU, aUS Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992; US fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises, and a number of US military vessels visit Singapore. The US Navy'sTask Force 73/Commander, Logistics Group Western Pacific is now located at Sembawang. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit US naval vessels to berth atChangi Naval Base, which was completed in early 2001.
Singapore's defence resources have also been used for international humanitarian aid missions. They included United Nationspeacekeeping missions in areas such asKosovo, Kuwait andEast Timor,[51] participation in theMulti-National Force – Iraq,[52] sending military equipment and personnel to assist in the humanitarian rescue and relief efforts in Indonesia after the2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, and theUnited States after Hurricane Katrina, sending medical supplies and personnel in response to the earthquake in Nepal and establishing medical and dental assets for use by theAfghan people.[53] The Republic of Singapore Navy contributes to anti-piracy efforts in the Gulf of Aden off the eastern coast of Somalia as part of the 25 nations coalitionCombined Maritime Forces. Several of the SAF's top officers have thus overseas operational military experience.[54][55] Singapore was the only Asian country to contribute assets and personnel to the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS and had participated in Operation Gallant Phoenix since May 2017.
Many of the Singapore's air units are located abroad such as:No. 130 Squadron in Australia,[56]No. 150 Squadron in France,[57] or jointUSAF-RSAF425th and428th Fighter Squadron.[58][59] Since 2009, up to 90 soldiers annually are sent to Germany for exercises of a maximum of seven weeks each time at theBergen-Hohne Training Area and other locations.[60]
Under the Singapore Armed Forces Act,[61] thepresident of Singapore has the authority to raise and maintain the SAF. The president also has the power to form, disband or amalgamate units within the SAF.
The Armed Forces Council (AFC) administers matters relating to the SAF under the Singapore Armed Forces Act. The AFC consists of:
Military offences are governed by the SAF and the Enlistment Act in the Singapore Statutes. However, civilian offences (e.g. against the Penal Code) may also amount to a military offence. Offences may be prosecuted by military prosecutors, through the military justice system, or through the civilian judicial system.[61][62]
The SAF consists of four service branches:
The SAF comprises seven standing task forces:
Supporting the combat role of the SAF are other governmental organisations of MINDEF, such as the Defence Policy Group, the Defence Management Group, the Defence Technology Group, and the Defence Science & Technology Agency. Within these groups are theCentral Manpower Base, Defence Cyber Organisation, and theMilitary Security Department. Domestic technology companies also play a role in building up Singapore's military capabilities, particularly the government-linkedST Engineering (formerly known as Chartered Industries of Singapore), which has designed and built SAF weaponry and equipment.[64]
The position ofChief of Defence Force was established in 1990, with the inaugural holder beingWinston Choo, who was previously Chief of the General Staff. The SAF is headed by the CDF, a three-starGeneral by establishment and the only active SAF General that can hold three-star rank. He is assisted by the four chiefs of the respective services, who are two-star generals/admirals by establishment. The SAF has a Sergeant Major who currently holds the rank of CWO.[65] The CDF is also supported by the Chief of Staff, Joint Staff, the Joint Operations Directorate, Joint Plans & Transformation Department, the Joint Manpower Department, the Joint Logistic Department, the Joint Intelligence Directorate, and Office of the Inspector-General of the Armed Forces.[66]
The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has five rank schemes for active and reservist personnel, with a sixth for theauxiliaries of theSAF Volunteer Corps. The SAF has a unique rank structure as an integrated force, ranks are the same in theSingapore Army, theRepublic of Singapore Navy (RSN), theRepublic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF), and theDigital and Intelligence Service (DIS).
The SAF utilises technology as "force multipliers", especially in the area ofC4I integration, which will enable its various units to fight in an integrated manner.[67] The Army, Air Force and Navy are linked via advanced data-links and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces. Technology is an important element in the SAF's transformation into a 3rd Generation Fighting Force.[68]
The SAF acknowledges that technology is crucial for overcoming the limitations of Singapore's small population. Having consistently had one of the largest defence budgets in the Asia-Pacific region, Singapore has focused on maintaining its spending on sophisticated and superior weaponry.[69] Research and experimentation to develop a technological edge began as early as 1971, even though the SAF then had only rudimentary capabilities. The effort started off with a three-man team. At present,[70] theMinistry of Defence (MINDEF) is one of the largest employers of engineers and scientists in Singapore and the SAF continues to devote considerable resources to defence research and development (R&D) and experimentation—5% and 1% of the defence budget, respectively.Singapore's education system has also produced national servicemen who can be trained to operate SAF's sophisticated platforms and systems.
In Sep 2008, the SAF officially opened itsMurai Urban Training Facility (MUTF) to hone the SAF's networked urban operations capability. The MUTF resembles a typical town and allows the soldiers to train realistically in an urban setting. In the same month, the SAF's new combat uniform,[71] as well as theAdvanced Combat Man System, were also unveiled for the first time.
The country also has an established military manufacturing industry that is responsible for the design and development of the following military hardware:
The SAF's first-generation army uniform was namedTemasek Green from the simple flat green uniform, with brown and blue colours being used for the navy and air force's uniforms respectively. This was followed by the second-generation uniform, which used a patchy camouflage pattern for the army, while usingoveralls for the army and navy.
The third and current generation of combat uniforms, commonly known as the No. 4, usesdigital camouflage with base colours green, blue, light grey and dark grey for the army, air force, navy and DIS respectively. In June 2018, the SAF introduced a new variant of the uniform for combat units, which provides more effective cooling in a manner similar to the ones issued to US army personnel for tropical climates.[72][73]
The SAF's desert-camouflage uniforms are only issued to personnel deployed overseas to countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan.[74]
| Rank | Monthly pay (approx., SGD) | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| Lieutenant-Colonel | 9,000-12,000 | [75] |
| Major | 7,000-9,000 | [76] |
| Captain | Degree holders: 5,400 – 6,940 | [77] |
| Lieutenant | Degree holders: 4,970 – 6,160 | [77] |
| 2nd Lieutenant | Non-degree holders: 2,820 – 3,590 | [77] |
| Officer Cadet Trainee | Degree holders: 4,650 – 5,840 Non-degree holders: 2,620 – 3,360 | [77] |
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