A big thanks to Shawn C for providing fresh news from Singapore’s Ministry of Defense:
1. Overseas exercises will restart soon after the COVID-19 caused delays - see https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/covid-19-saf-suspends-major-overseas-exercises-including-exercise-wallaby
2. First Invincible class [and see] submarine delivery delayed by COVID-19 to
2022. As Shawn C mentioned previously the two Archer class were extensively refurbished
ten years ago and should be viable till later in the decade. The two active Challenger-class submarines [RSS Conqueror and RSS Chieftain] are now over 55 years old and been in commission in
the RSN for just under twenty years.
4. Singapore's F-35B program is on track. Four F-35Bs with eight options.
Announced cost inclusive of training and sustainment, training in US.
Considering that the RSAF and Italian Air Force both now use the M-346 jet trainer for lead-in fighter training (LIFT) and
both operate the F-35B, there could be a future shift to Italian F-35B flight
training.
5. The Multi-Role Combat Vessel program on track to replace
Victory-class corvettes by 2030. Now this is a mystery program as there’s no
contract award announcement and steel needs to be cut very soon, The
Victory-class is over 30 years old. Speculation from IMDEX2019 was the class
could be mid-size frigates (my best guess are Belh@rra class [frigate derivates of around 4,500 tons]).
6. Four former ‘patrol vessels’ to be reconfigured for new
MARSEC (Maritime Security Command or MSTF?). Most likely retired Fearless-Class without
76mm and AShM, more less-than-lethal fit (MRAD, water cannons), boarding and
surveillance. Two additional new vessels to be added in near future.
7. Singapore constructs the majority of surface vessels
locally at ST Marine’s Benoi yard, and they will be facing production pressures
as the next long-term project after the Multi-Role Combat Vessel is the JMMS (Joint Multi Mission Support) class scheduled to replace the Endurance-class Landing Platform Dock in the early 2030s.
For additional details on the above points see https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/saf-covid-19-delays-new-submarine-f35-fighter-jet-ng-eng-hen-12880436
3 comments:
Right now, our best bet is that the MRCV will be a derivative of the STMarine Vanguard 130:
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/1_Vanguard_130@STEnginnering.jpg
https://www.edrmagazine.eu/imdex-19-st-engineering-unveils-latest-vanguard-combatant-variant
Damen also advertised its Crossover 139 for the requirement at IMDEX19, but I'm not sure if the tender has been issued for competition yet.
The MRCV is not intended to be a classic frigate, but rather a distributed warfare "mothership", deploying UAS, UUV, and USVs. The Belharra/FDI frigates do not appear to be structurally optimised to deploy the offboard warfare systems necessary.
See: https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/mothership-navy-submarine-hunter-recon-leader-unmanned-systems-11542998
especially the video.
The Formidables need to undergo an MLU soon.I personally hope the Herakles will be replaced by Sea Fire. There is also indication that the Harpoon 1B fit were always considered an interim solution: https://peacethoughstrength.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html
"During the Naval Platform Technology Seminar held in Singapore in 2004, Singapore’s Permanent Secretary (Defence) Peter Ho hinted that the Harpoon missile was considered an interim fit, stating that,” these third-generation platforms (Formidable class frigates) must eventually be upgraded and armed with a new generation of anti-ship missiles that can defeat the most advanced defences"."
Strange as it sounds, the tiny corvette sized frigates were said to be designed with spare space and capacity for future upgrades. It is said to be a very cramped vessel to live in.
Hi retortPouch
Thanks for your comment.
I'll turn it into an article tomorrow.
Cheers
Pete
Just to add:
I’m personally unsure as to what the Singapore Navy will pick, though the close timeline is a big hint that it should be an existing ship design customised to the RSN’s requirements.
We do know it will have extensive unmanned control and handling facilities, to operate at least two UAVs, two UUVs and two USVs (simultaneously?) and act as a data node for off-board sensors (probably controlling Heron MALE UAVs), though Singapore’s increasing naval reach indicates a more expeditionary approach for Fleet units for SLOC patrols (I wonder why)
Under the recent RSN organisational change 181 squadron, operating the 500-ton Victory Class missile Corvettes are under Fleet, not MARSEC (Independence-class LMVs for example), so their replacements will not be designed for just ‘local’ operations.
I have three guesses:
1. Modified Belh@rra class, locally built with close Naval Group cooperation, since they now have an R&D centre in Singapore
https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/11/naval-group-opens-new-rd-center-in-singapore/
2. Larger ST Vanguard derivative with DCNS inputs, because the Vanguard 130 variant looks crammed to the gills
https://www.navalnews.com/event-news/imdex-asia-2019/2019/05/imdex-2019-st-engineering-unveils-vanguard-130-multi-role-combatant/
3. Wild Guess and personal favourite- Type 26 with Seafire radar, 127mm gun.
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