The SAF is a national institution that brings Singaporeans from all walks
of life and different backgrounds together in the defence of Singapore.
Almost every Singaporean family has sent sons and husbands to undertake
National Service, to be prepared for the task of defending family and
country. This cohesive, strong SAF is the bedrock on which the peace and
prosperity of Singapore have been built.
The SAF’s key mission is to deter aggression. When we started 35 years
ago, the SAF was just a two-ship navy and two-battalion army. Today, it is
a tri-service defence force with a 50,000 strong standing armed forces
made up of regulars and full-time National Servicemen and another
300,000 Operationally Ready National Servicemen (NSmen).
Through the years, the SAF’s development has focused on two key areas:
Operational Readiness and Capability. These are the core attributes that
make the SAF a well-integrated fighting force.
An Integrated Fighting Force
The SAF integrates its three Services to fight as one single fighting system.
It combines the capabilities and resources of the Army, Republic of
Singapore Navy (RSN) and Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF)
whenever and wherever needed. When an aircraft, a ship, a tank or an
individual soldier fights, it is as part of a total system. The operational end
result is combat power out of proportion to the size of the SAF. Tri-Service