SINGAPORE- Singapore has deployed two more vessels to help in the search and locate efforts of missing AirAsia Indonesia flight QZ8501.

At 11.55pm on Sunday, Second Minister for Defence Chan Chun Sing sent off the Formidable-class frigate (RSS Supreme) and Missile corvette (RSS Valour) to assist in the mission, the Ministry of Defence said in a statement.

A landing ship tank and submarine support and rescue vessel are also on standby for deployment.

Mr Chan said the close relationship that both countries shared would facilitate the operation. "I believe that with the strong relationship that Indonesia and Singapore have built up over many years, which transcends all levels from the highest political level to the military commanders, we will be able to work closely and execute the search and locate operation effectively."

Earlier in the day, a Republic of Singapore Air Force C130 plane took off at around 5pm to assist with search operations after Indonesia accepted Singapore's offer of assistance. The C130 reached the search area at around 630pm and carried out operations for two hours. The plane left the area after the Indonesian authorities called off the search for the day.

Two more planes from Singapore are expected to join the mission on Monday.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore said it will also be sending an officer to the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency in Jakarta to assist in the coordination with the Indonesian authorities on the search operations.

The Singapore Ministry of Transport's Air Accident Investigation Bureau has also offered the Indonesian authorities two teams of specialists and two sets of underwater locator beacon detectors to assist with the search.