Defence cooperation holds a key position in the bilateral relations between France and Singapore, and these ties are old and strong. They feature three components:
a military cooperation, overseen by an agreement signed in Paris in October 1998, which in particular has allowed for a Singaporean air force squadron to be stationed in France since 1999;
an annual strategic dialogue, started in 1999 and led by the ministries of defence, with one session each year involving « army », « navy » and « air forces » groups;
a partnership for the acquisition of weapons (France is the second-leading supplier to Singapore, which acquired six stealth frigates in 2000, and its third partner in research and development in defence technology ).
Besides, exchanges of visits by high-level military authorities between the two countries have been taking place frequently since 1997.
In the field of armament, our cooperation is first based on an active and permanent dialogue on researches and studies. Through the « Delta » programme, the Singapore Navy has acquired six « stealth » frigates the first of which is built in France and commissioned on 5 May 2007 while the 5 others are being built at the Singaporean shipyard STM. This programme is a key element in our defence cooperation because it involves the transfert of know-how and of technology that has given Singapore a role of partner and not simply that of a client.
And the "Proliferation Security Initiative" (PSI) can offer new opportunities of cooperation in the field of defence.
Recent Chronology :
- In October 2006, the frigate "La Fayette" from the French Navy came to Singapore for joint military exercises with the Singaporean Navy.
On 21 to 24 November 2006, Rear-Admiral Ronnie Tay, Singaporean Navy Chief, visited France at the invitation of Admiral Oudot de Dainville, Chief of Staff of the French Navy (detailed information)
The French Navy’s helicopter carrier "Jeanne d’Arc" and the frigate "Georges Leygues" visited Singapore from 25 to 30 January 2007.
On 13 March 2007, the 8th France-Singapore Defence Policy Dialogue took place in Singapore.
On 30-31 March 2007, Admiral Alain Oudot de Dainville, the French Naval Chief of Staff, visted Singapore at the invitation of his Singaporean counterpart, Rear Admiral Ronnie Tay.
On 19 April 2007, French Navy frigate « Vendémiaire », stationed at Nouméa, arriveed in Singapore for a scheduled major technical overhaul of two months.
On 5 May 2007, the « Formidable », the first of six « stealth » frigates, built in France for the Singaporean Navy, is commissioned at Changi Naval Base.
