La Perle, the anti-submarine warfare frigate Dupleix and the support ship Jules Verne arrived at the new Changi naval base a week after the US aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk.

France, which has a strong military presence in the Asia Pacific region, has close defence ties with the republic.

In February, the two signed a memorandum of understanding described in a Singapore defence department statement as "a further step towards close cooperation between the two armed forces."

The Singapore Air Force conducts its advanced air training at La Teste in southwest France.

Tiny but affluent Singapore, which spends up to six percent of gross domestic product on defence, has regularly expressed concern that regional turmoil has exposed its vulnerability to outside forces despite its domestic stability.

"As a small country in the middle of a rather turbulent region, Singapore would be wise not to take our peace and security for granted," Defence Minister Tony Tan said in a recent parliamentary debate.

"Without a credible defence force, we would not have the political space or peace of mind to focus on economic growth. We would not be able to secure our future, nor would we be able to do our part to contribute to regional peace."

Southeast Asia has seen rising threats to its stability from separatist movements as well as ethnic and religious tensions in Indonesia.

The new Changi naval base, designed to accommodate large warships, is at the mouth of the strategic Malacca Strait, the world's fastest-growing piracy hotspot.