Mindef signs contract to acquire two more Invincible-class submarines
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Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems CEO Oliver Burkhard (left) and Defence Science and Technology Agency chief executive Ng Chad-Son at the contract signing ceremony on May 7.
PHOTO: DSTA
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SINGAPORE - The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) announced on May 8 that it has signed a contract with Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems to acquire two additional Invincible-class submarines.
This will bring the number of submarines in Singapore’s fleet to a total of six, which the ministry said “further enhances the Republic of Singapore Navy’s (RSN) ability to protect our sea lines of communication”.
The move was previously announced at the budget debate in March, when Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said that Singapore planned several hardware upgrades for the Singapore Armed Forces
At the time, Dr Ng noted that the RSN’s submarine programme was on track, but two additional Invincible-class submarines were needed as four would not be optimal for a submarine fleet, due to the vessels requiring more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles as they operate under intense pressure.
Mindef said on May 8 that the submarines are part of the RSN’s approach to long-term capability development.
“Customised by the Defence Science and Technology Agency for Singapore’s needs, the Invincible-class submarines are designed for operations in shallow and busy tropical waters, and to be leanly crewed by the RSN’s specialised submariners,” said the ministry.
The additional submarines are projected for delivery from 2034. Two of the four existing Invincible-class submarines, RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable
Mindef added that the trials and acceptance for the third and fourth submarines, Illustrious and Inimitable,
