Singapore Armed Forces (SAF)

<Note> This page is still being updating. Check back soon for more update.

Introduction

The Singapore Armed Forces is the military component of the Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore as part of the city-state's Total Defence strategy. The SAF has three services: the Singapore Army, the Republic of Singapore Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Navy. [wiki]

Military Domain Experts

The Military Domain Experts Scheme (MDES) was introduced by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean in May 2009. MDES is designed to allow Military Expert (MEs) to develop deep expertise and specialisation in key military domains like engineering and intelligence. It offers an extended military career up to age 60. The ranks are:

  • Military Expert 1 (ME1)
    • Military Expert 1 Trainee (ME1(T))
  • Military Expert 2 (ME2)
  • Military Expert 3 (ME3)
  • Military Expert 4 (ME4)
    • Military Expert 4 Trainee (ME4(T))
    • Military Expert 4 Apprentice (ME4(A))
  • Military Expert 5 (ME5)
  • Military Expert 6 (ME6)
  • Military Expert 7 (ME7)
  • Military Expert 8 (ME8)


Military Technology

Supplier

  • ST Engineering [link]

Singapore Military Hardware

  • PRIMUS – Self Propelled Howitzer
  • Bionix II – Infantry Fighting Vehicle (An upgrade of the Bionix AFV)
  • MATADOR – Unguided Short Range Anti-Armour Weapon
  • PEGASUS – Light Weight Howitzer
  • SAR 21 & Bullpup multirole combat rifle – Bullpup Assault Rifle
  • Formidable-Class Stealth Frigate – Warships designed with stealthy characteristics, equipped with advanced combat systems and with longer endurance
  • Independence-class littoral mission vessel - Warships designed for Littoral and Coastal Warfare

Selected Imported Military Hardware

  • Lockheed Martin Corp F-35B [link]
    • Singapore purchased the F-35B and related equipment in 2020 for US$2.75 billion (S$3.7 billion). Singapore would be the fourth country in the Asia-Pacific region to own F-35 jets. It can take off from shorter runways and land vertically.
    • Specification
      • Speed: Mach 1.6 / 1960 Kmh
      • Combat radius: 833 Km
      • Range: 1667 Km
      • Internal fuel capacity: 6125 Kg
      • Max G: 7.0
      • Weapon payload: 6800 Kg
      • Wing span: 10.7 m
      • Length: 15.6 m
  • F-16 Fighting Falcon
    • F-16
  • Boeing F-15E
    • F-15SG
  • Boeing AH-64 Apache
  • Airbus A330 MRTT
  • Boeing CH-47 Chinook
  • Airbus H225M Caracal
  • Aster 30
  • Rafael SPYDER

More Info

Head of the SAF

  1. BG Thomas James Duncan Campbell, Director, General Staff of the Singapore Defence Force (1968–1970)
  2. BG Kirpa Ram Vij, Director, General Staff (1970–1974)
  3. LTG Winston Choo Wee Leong, Chief of the General Staff / Chief of Defence Force (1974–1992)
  4. LTG Ng Jui Ping, Chief of Defence Force (1992–1995)
  5. LTG Bey Soo Khiang, Chief of Defence Force (1995–2000)
  6. LTG Lim Chuan Poh, Chief of Defence Force (2000–2003)
  7. LTG Ng Yat Chung, Chief of Defence Force (2003–2007)
  8. LTG Desmond Kuek, Chief of Defence Force (2007–2010)
  9. LTG Neo Kian Hong, Chief of Defence Force (2010–2013)
  10. LTG Ng Chee Meng, Chief of Defence Force (2013–2015)
  11. LTG Perry Lim, Chief of Defence Force (2015–2018)
  12. LTG Melvyn Ong, Chief of Defence Force (2018–current)

Armed Forces Day

Coming soon

SAFTI MI

The SAFTI Military Institute is a tri-service military training institution for officers of all ranks of the SAF. The military facilty was officially opened by Singapore's second Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong on 25th August 1995.

Link Bridge

The SAFTI Link connects SAFTI MI and Pasir Laba Camp (HQ TRADOC). [link]

References

Online

  1. Military Expert https://www.mindef.gov.sg/oms/arc/our-careers-military-expert.html
  2. Dec. 7, 2016 Andrew Tan https://www.nas.gov.sg/archivesonline/data/pdfdoc/20161207002/Fact%20Sheet.pdf
  3. Yong, Charissa (2020, Jan 10). US government paves way for sale of F-35B fighter jets to Singapore. Retrieved Feb 15, 2020 from Straits Times
  4. Lim, Min Zhang (2019, Jan 18). F-35 fighter jets identified as 'most suitable' to replace RSAF's F-16s: Mindef. Retrieved Feb 15, 2020 from Straits Times
  5. Kor, Kian Beng (2018, Jun 30). Decision on F-16 fighter jet replacement likely in next few months: Ng Eng Hen. Retrieved Feb 15, 2020 from Straits Times