The mission of the RSN is to provide for the seaward defence and ensures the safety and security of Singapore’s vital Sea Lines of Communication (SLOCs). In peacetime, the RSN maintains a continuous and comprehensive surveillance and presence in the Singapore Strait and approaches to safeguard Singapore’s territorial waters, deter sea robberies and look out for illegal immigrants.
The RSN works closely with other government agencies such as the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and Police Coast Guard to accomplish its mission. In a post-911 security environment, the RSN along with various internal and external maritime agencies has developed comprehensive and integrated plans and carries out a number of maritime security operations to enhance security in Singapore’s waters against possible terrorist threats.
The RSN contributes significantly to the SAF’s mission of diplomacy as well. It interacts and exercises with many foreign navies both from the region and beyond to strengthen defence co-operation and build up confidence and trust in defence relations.
In addition, the RSN has represented the SAF to show Singapore’s commitment as a responsible member of the international community by conducting Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, Peace Support Operations, Counter-piracy operations and socio-civic activities both in the region and beyond.
In wartime should deterrence and diplomacy fail, the RSN aims to secure a victory over any aggressor at sea. The Navy’s main wartime tasks include ensuring the integrity of Singapore’s territorial waters, preventing interdiction of the vital SLOCs and destroying the aggressor’s maritime forces at sea.