Singapore Military - 2021

Military and security forces

Singapore Armed Forces (aka Singapore Defense Force): Singapore Army, Republic of Singapore Navy, Republic of Singapore Air Force (includes air defense); Police Coast Guard (subordinate to the Singapore Police Force) (2021)

Military expenditures

3.3% of GDP (2020 est.)

3.2% of GDP (2019)

3.1% of GDP (2018)

3.1% of GDP (2017)

3.2% of GDP (2016)

Military and security service personnel strengths

the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have approximately 60,000 active duty troops (45,000 Army; 7,000 Navy; 8,000 Air Force) (2020)

Military equipment inventories and acquisitions

the SAF has a diverse and largely modern mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons; Singapore has the most developed arms industry in Southeast Asia and is also the largest importer of weapons; since 2010, the US is the chief supplier of arms to Singapore, followed by a diverse array of countries, including France, Germany, and Spain (2020)

Military deployments

maintains permanent training bases and detachments of military personnel in Australia, France, and the US (2020)

Military service age and obligation

18-21 years of age for male compulsory military service; 16 1/2 years of age for voluntary enlistment (with parental consent); 2-year conscript service obligation, with a reserve obligation to age 40 (enlisted) or age 50 (officers) (2019)

Maritime threats

the International Maritime Bureau reports the territorial and offshore waters in the South China Sea as high risk for piracy and armed robbery against ships; numerous commercial vessels have been attacked and hijacked both at anchor and while underway; hijacked vessels are often disguised and cargo diverted to ports in East Asia; crews have been murdered or cast adrift; the Singapore Straits saw 23 attacks against commercial vessels in 2020, vessels were boarded in 22 of the 23 incidents, one crew was injured, another taken hostage and two threatened during these incidents