SHAH ALAM: The Joneses, Singapore launched two subs. Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong officiated the launch ceremony of two Republic Singapore Navy (RSN) submarines – Impeccable and Illustrious – in Germany on December 13. The first of the four submarines order – Invincible – was launched in 2019. The three submarines are expected to be delivered to Singapore next year.
From Singapore Mindef:
Prime Minister (PM) Lee Hsien Loong officiated the launch ceremony of the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN)’s second and third Invincible-class submarines, Impeccable and Illustrious, at thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) shipyard in Kiel, Germany on 13 December 2022. The submarines were launched by Mrs Lee Hsien Loong, who, as the spouse of the officiating officer, was the Lady Sponsor. German Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the launch ceremony as an honoured guest, at the invitation of PM Lee. The ceremony was also witnessed by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Chief of German Navy Vice-Admiral Jan Christian Kaack, RSN’s Chief of Navy Rear-Admiral Aaron Beng, CEO tkMS Oliver Burkhard, Chief Executive Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA) Mr Mervyn Tan, and other senior defence officials from both countries.
Emphasising the importance of the submarines during his address at the ceremony, PM Lee said, “Singapore is a maritime nation and we are highly reliant on the free and unimpended movement of goods and services across the sea for our prosperity and indeed survival. The RSN has the crucial mission of keeping our Sea Lines of Communication open. Submarines provide the RSN an added capability to fulfil its role.” Expressing optimism for the warm and growing defence relations between Singapore and Germany, he added, “Our collaboration on this strategic capability underscores the depth of partnership and the trust between our navies and our defence industries. I am confident that the relationship between Germany and Singapore will grow from strength to strength, and I look forward to more meaningful interactions between our militaries.”
The Invincible-class submarines are custom-designed for operations in Singapore’s shallow and busy tropical waters, and they possess longer endurance and higher payloads. Following the launch, Impeccable and Illustrious, will undergo a series of sea trials before delivery to Singapore. The first submarine Invincible was launched in 2019, while the fourth submarine Inimitable, remains under construction.
The launch of the two submarines, despite the challenges posed by COVID-19, underpins the resilience and readiness of the SAF, RSN and DSTA. It marks a key milestone in the RSN’s submarine modernisation journey. The launch is also testament to the warm and growing defence ties between Singapore and Germany, underpinned by the signing of the enhanced Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2018. Both countries cooperate and interact widely through high-level visits and dialogues, military exchanges and training, cross-attendance of professional courses, and in areas of mutual interest, such as in defence technology and cyber.
For more on the new RSN submarines go here.
— Malaysian Defence
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View Comments (23)
We need to buy more submarine. At least another ten. With more modern & longer operation period for those submarine.
nalzar - ''At least another ten.''
Does the shore support infrastructure and manpower - never mind the cash - come from Father Christmas? You have any idea as to the level of resources needed to sustain 10 subs and the resources we utilise just to operate a pair?
Speaking of subs, do ours strictly operate within the SCS and eastern fleet or are they also required to patrol the peninsular aswell?
no idea
Jason Lo - ''Speaking of subs, do ours strictly operate within the SCS and eastern fleet or are they also required to patrol the peninsular aswell?''
Let's look at the facts as they stand or as we know them.
- The Melaka Straits for the most part is too shallow.
- The South China Sea has deep sea in various areas [still within the continental shelf] and is where the Spratlys are; an area of vital importance and concern for us.
- The last time we heard of the subs being in the Peninsular is when they returned from France; on their way to Sepanggar they made a brief stopover.
And every LIMA
2 units in one launching ceremony. Save money for the singaporean after forking billions to buy the sub. Are they equipped with cruise missiles?
No idea
Blue Spear comes to mind for the Sub "cruise missile"
So looking at the facts, where does the singaporean subs play?
British & Australian subs in the 50s, 60s and 70s used to ply around Langkawi and Tioman
This is HMS Finwhale in April 1970 at Tioman. This sub is bigger than our current Scorpene.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FJxroghWQAEPCJ5.jpg
Rather than having conventional submarines, tied to fixed replenishment locations, RMN could pursue smaller submarines that could be replenished by OSVs acting as a submarine tender anywhere. Distributed lethality.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FRaohpoacAAhO2R.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/FbYZADuWQAAK9NW.jpg
3 thing to note for TKMS sub.the 218sg is largest build so far...1) propeller noise diffuser and 2) multi purpose vertical locks and 3) weapon luncher.
Wong - "So looking at the facts, where does the singaporean subs play"
Based on the "facts" the plainly obvious answer is not in the Straits of Melaka but in the South China Sea mainly.
No sub transits the Straits of Melaka mostly submerged for the simple reason that much if the area is too shallow. In some parts the water is so shallow subs can be seen from the air and in various parts of the Melaka and also the Singapore Straits subs have to surface. An alternative to the Melaka
Straits is the much deeper Sunda Straits.
In short our subs operate mainly in the east because conditions there are more ideal [note that every single bilateral multilateral exercise which has had sub participation is held in the South China Sea - I have compiled a list] and also because that's where our strategic concerns are. That's also where our only base with a shore support infrastructure for subs is located.
Wong - "British & Australian subs in the 50s, 60s and 70s used to ply around Langkawi and Tioman"
Those waters are deep [as you head westward from Langkawi towards the Andamans and Nicobar the water gets deeper] and so are the waters around Pangkor but by and large most of the waters on the West coast are shallow. East of Tioman as one heads towards Aur the water gets deeper.
BTW Kriegsmarine boats operated from Penang in WW2.
Wong - "RMN could pursue smaller submarines that could be"
This is an issue which has been dealt with on several occasions. Smaller subs have less endurance [which advances in tech mitigate but don't obviate] and range; as well as less internal space to carry weapons and other things. Smaller boats also have less capable sensors.
There is a reason we selected boats of a certain displacement; why we don't see a need for smaller boats and also why navies like the Bundersmarine which traditionally had small subs [Type 206s] have gone for slightly larger boats.
Wong - " that could be replenished by OSVs"
- A tender can be any type; not necessarily a OSV.
- A larger sub can also be replenished. We don't have to get smaller subs just so they can be replenished at sea.
- Given that our subs don't operate for weeks on end at sea; replenishing them is not a concern [same reason we have no requirement for oilers which some erroneously insist we need]. If they had to operate for a longer period all ships/subs have reserve food/water/fuel.