The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) consists of the:

• Army (Three Combined Arms Divisions: 3 Div, 6 Div & 9 Div, and two "Commands" : 1 & 2 People's Defence Forces)
• Air Force (Seventeen squadrons and four air bases)
• Navy (Eight squadrons and two naval bases)

Introduction

Singapore relies primarily on its own defence forces , which are continuously being modernized. The SAF was formed after the British pulled out of Singapore in December 1971. The defence budget accounts for approximately 28% of government operating expenditures (or 5% of GDP). A career military force of 20,000 is supplemented by 55,000 men on active National Service for a term of 2 to 2½ years (reduced to 2 years from 1st Dec 2004) depending on educational level and assigned military vocation. Service is compulsory for all able-bodied young men who has reached 17½ years of age and not on deferment for educational reasons. Another 225,000 reservists who have completed active National Service and are placed on a 13 years stand-by period. These reservists, also known as NSMen, are liable for up to 40 days of active service every work year. The SAF engages in joint training with all the ASEAN nations and with the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Republic of China (Taiwan), and India.

Source: US Department of State

Foreign Defence Relations

Singapore is a member of the Five Power Defence Arrangement together with the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Malaysia. Designed to replace the former defense role of the British in the Singapore-Malaysia area, the arrangement obligates members to consult in the event of external threat and provides for stationing Commonwealth forces in Singapore.

Singapore has consistently supported a strong U.S. military presence in the Asia-Pacific region. In 1990, the U.S. and Singapore signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which allows the U.S. access to Singapore facilities at Paya Lebar Airbase and the Sembawang wharves. Under the MOU, a U.S. Navy logistics unit was established in Singapore in 1992; U.S. fighter aircraft deploy periodically to Singapore for exercises, and a number of U.S. military vessels visit Singapore. The MOU was amended in 1999 to permit U.S. naval vessels to berth at the Changi Naval Base, which was completed in early 2001.

Training

All combatant troops go through a 3-month Basic Military Training (BMT). This is where they will learn field craft, basic jungle survival, camouflaging, operating their personal weapon and basic marksmanship. After which, potential officers and specialists are selected to go through either a 9-month officer cadet course or a 21-week infantry specialist course, while the rest are posted to various units and schools to continue their vocational training till their operationally-ready date (ORD), when they will be put into reserve units and continue their civilian lives.

Technology in the SAF

The SAF also utilises technology as "force-multipliers". It is widely recognised that the SAF is probably the most advanced force in Asia, in terms of C4I integration which will enable its CAD to fight in an integrated manner. The army, airforce and navy are linked via advanced datalinks and networks to enable coordinated attacks and support for various units and forces. It also possess the most capable military manufacturing industry, having built a 28-ton AFV, various self-propelled 155mm artillery, modernised all its fighter jets, built naval vessels and communication electronics. This enables the SAF to operate customised equipment designed for its unique requirements.

Special Forces

Singapore is also well prepared for sub-conventional warfare such as terrorism. The army consists of at least one active commando battalion and an unknown number of Special Operations Force (SOF) members. The SOF is an elite unit, and its exact order of battle and personnel are highly classified. Little is known of their training, but many ex-SOF personnel can be spotted wearing airborne badges of various countries and some are trained by the US Navy SEAL.

Besides the SOF, the Naval Diving Unit is a Marines version of the SOF. Highly trained in air/land/sea operations, they are capable of diving/infiltrating for special operations. Most of them wear the prestigious US Navy SEAL badge, and in year 2000, a Singaporean trainee topped the US Navy SEAL course in his cohort.

Intelligence

Intelligence in the SAF is well covered and little is known of the method of intelligence collection. However it is well-known that the SAF is probably the most advanced in SIGINT and imagery intelligence. Probably with the help of satellites or other technology. The Air Force also operates Israeli manufactured UAVs, equipped with thermal and optical sensors.

Weapons

Army

• Infantry: M-16S1, M-16 Carbine, Ultimax SAW, MATADOR LAW, ARMBRUST LAW, SAR-21, FN-GPMG, CIS 40mm AGL, SPIKE ATGM, 84mm and 106mm Recoiless Guns. Mortars of all calibres.
  
• Armour: 350 Modernised AMX-13SM-1 tanks, >80 Modernised Centurion Main Battle Tanks, >700 Modernised 25mm / 40mm AGLM113 APC, ~500 Bionix 28-ton AFV (25mm / 40mm AGL), AMX-10P/PAC90
  
• Artillery: FH-2000/52-calibre (155mm towed/SP howitzer), FH-88 (155mm towed howitzer), M-71S 155mm Howitzer, SSPH-1 Primus (155mm Bionix-based SP Howitzer), 120mm Super-Rapid Mortar, other infantry mortars and 105mm Reserve Artillery
  

Air Force

• 8 F-16 Block 15OC Upgraded A/B (Transferred to Thai AF WEF Dec 04)
• 62 F-16Block 52 C/D
• 60 A4SU Upgraded SkyHawk
• 45 F-5 S/T Upgraded Tiger II
• 8 RF-5S Upgraded Tiger II
• 4 E-2C AWACS
• 4 KC-135 Air Refuelling/Transport
• 5 Fokker-50 Maritime Patrol (armed with harpoons and torpedoes)
• 4 Fokker-50 Transport
• 10 C-130B/H and KC-130
• 20 AH-64D Apache Longbow
• 12 Boeing CH47 SD

Navy

• 4 Challenger (ex-Sjöormen) class submarines
• 6 Formidable class stealth frigates
• 6 Victory class missile corvettes
• 6 Fearless class anti-submarine warfare patrol vessels
• 6 Fearless class patrol vessels
• 4 Endurance class amphibious transport docks
• 4 Bedok (Landsort) class mine counter-measure vessels

References and Links

• Singapore
• Singapore Ministry of Defence (MINDEF)