The 114m-long frigates - Singapore's largest combat vessels - will be armed with anti-aircraft missiles and cutting-edge sensors that allow them to destroy enemy warplanes from up to 15km away.

The ships, which are also harder to pick up on radar, are expected to help the navy play a bigger role in air defence, which traditionally falls to the air force.

In an interview last week, the chief of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) told reporters that the ships are part of the country's long-term plan to bolster its maritime defences.

'We can see first, we can decide faster and act first. That enables us to be sure of the outcome,' said Rear-Admiral Chew Men Leong.

RSS Intrepid, RSS Steadfast and RSS Tenacious will bring to four the number of Formidable-class stealth frigates in the Singapore navy.

Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times.