Singapore’s Alliance Anxieties and Submarine Setup (Part 1)

With February 18, 2019's launch of Singapore's first Invincible-class Type 218SG submarine I think it time to talk about some more general Singaporean alliance issues and some submarine aspects.

ALLIANCES

Singapore’s highly strategic geographical position (Map below) and political maturity means it is an integral member of the Western Alliance. Singapore is at one end of the Strait of Malacca choke-point and at the southern end of the South China Sea. So, despite its minute size, Singapore is a highly valued country in military, economic and intelligence terms. To top it off Singapore’s good command of English may make it the:

-  the country in Southeast Asia most trusted by Fives Eyes (Japan, Germany, the Netherlands and
    Israel might also be associate members), and
-   an associate member of the still loose US, Japan, Australia, India “Quadrilateral”
     eg. a Singaporean frigate was at MALABAR 2007 

Singapore is therefore a trusted owner of the (almost) most sensitive Western weapons:

-  including the US tailor-made made Boeing F-15SG,

-  In January 2019, Singapore announced its plan to buy a small number of F-35As for an evaluation
    of capabilities and suitability before deciding on more F-35As to replace the aging F-16 fleet.
-  Up to 4 x US Navy Littoral Combat Ships operate out of Singapore Harbour under US 7th Fleet,
    Task Force 73 command.
-  US nuclear submarines visit Singapore around every 2 years (eg. 2015 and 2017).
-   Singapore has a close intelligence, including Special Forces, relationship with Israel. This is partly
     because Singapore like Israel, is a small nervous nation in a region of large Muslim countries. 
     Singapore like Israel also faces regional Islamic terrorism.

Singapore defense anxieties explain why it is the 5th highest defense spender, per capita, in the world.

SINGAPORE'S SUBMARINES

Germany’s TKMS has tailor-made Singapore's 218SG submarine with a more advanced than usual Atlas Elektronik Combat System. TKMS has also supplied the German (Siemens' (?)) air independent propulsion (AIP) system (tailored to Singapore's warm water enviroment). This is all highly sensitive and very expensive equipment. Looking 42 seconds into the Youtube below, the 218SG is also likely to use 2 x MTU 12V 4000 diesels. 

Singapore has maintained a 4 submarine navy of the Challenger class, part replaced by 2 x Archer class, for 22 years. As the first 2 x 218SGs are delivered/commissioned in 2021-2022 (see graphic) the remaining 2 Challengers will be retired. When the second tranche of 2 x 218SGs are commissioned in the mid-2020s the 2 x Archer class will be retired, thus forming an all 218SG force of 4. There are many tactical, logistical and safety advantages in having an all-the-same submarine force.

To prepare for the 218SGs Singapore has been given better access than usual to the Type 212A’s of the German Navy and I suspect access to Israel’s Dolphin 2 (AIP) submarines. This is given the Dolphin 2’s share very similar specifications and some tasks with the 218SG. While the Dolphin 2 has nuclear armed Tomahawk-like missiles (forget the "Popeye Turbo" cover...) the 218SG won’t have any, of course.  

Model of  TKMS Type 218SG taken at IMDEX ASIA, Singapore, May 19-21, 2015 (Photo of model courtesy Defense Studies blog)

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Official Singapore Navy Youtube.
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SUBMARINE GEOGRAPHY

The islands and undersea rocks on the approaches (like the Singapore Strait) to the Strait of Malacca provide many places for experienced Singaporean submarine captains to sit, hiding, on the shallow seafloor. (Map courtesy welt-atlas).

-  Air independent propulsion (AIP), that Singpore has heavily invested in, is a major tactical and

    safety advantage, when hiding motionless.

-  Note the reinforced hull bottom of the TKMS built Israeli Dolphin 2 - much like the 218SG, 

    I expect. 

-  In the Photo and (official) Youtube above can be seen the 218SG’s X plane rudder. The rudder is

    ideal for tight turning and gentle maneuvering in the tight seafloor spaces, rocks and holes.  

The shallows increase the likelihood of Singapore's subs colliding with rocks, seafloor, ships and with other subs. Submarine sonar for navigation is more than usually distorted in the shallows, so the Singaporean Navy's decades of experience is very important. 

See What the 218SG is used for? (Part 2) which includes weapons details, on Friday, 22 February 2019.

Pete