Republic of Singapore Navy  The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is the naval branch of the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF), responsible for the defence of Singapore against sea-borne threats and protection of its sea lines of communications. Operating within the crowded littoral waters of the Singapore Strait, the RSN is widely regarded as one of the most highly sophisticated and well trained in the region. It conducts regular operations with the Royal Malaysian Navy and Indonesian Navy to combat piracy and terrorist threats. To provide air surveillance of the seaward approaches to Singapore, the RSN also jointly operates maritime patrol aircraft with its counterparts from the RSAF to ensure the security of one of the busiest sealanes in the world. Though numerically small in comparison to its much larger neighbours in terms of tonnage and manpower reserves, the RSN seeks to maintain a qualitative superiority over any adversary through the implementation of new technologies and fostering of alliances with extra-regional navies. It conducts regular bilateral exercises with the United States, China, India, Australia and New Zealand. In 2018, procurement plans were announced for a Multi-Role Combat Vessel which will function as a mothership for unmanned assets, and a Joint Multi Mission Ship which will facilitate better disaster relief support and greater aviation capability compared to the existing "Endurance" class landing ship tanks, leading to speculation that it could effectively serve as a light helicopter carrier. All commissioned ships of the RSN have the prefix "RSS" standing for ("Republic of Singapore Ship"). As an island nation, the RSN forms part of Singapore's first line of defence. Its stated mission objectives are to:  The Republic of Singapore Navy traces its origins to the Royal Navy in the 1930s with only two patrol craft. The Straits Settlements Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was established on 20 April 1934 and in 1941 became the Singaporean division of the Malayan Volunteer Reserve during World War II. In 1948, the Malayan Force was raised by the Singapore government and was later granted the title of the Royal Malayan Navy in 1952 in recognition of its services in action during the Malayan Emergency. On 16 September 1963, Singapore was admitted as a state of Malaysia under the terms of confederation and the Royal Malayan Navy was renamed the Royal Malaysian Navy. The Singapore division of the Malayan Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve was formally transferred from the command of the Royal Navy to the Malaysian Navy on 22 September 1963, becoming the Singapore Volunteer Force. On 9 August 1965, to form an independent republic. The Singapore Volunteer Force ceased to be a part of the Malaysian Navy and became the "de facto" naval force of Singapore.