Naval Group, Singapore's DSTA agree on additive manufacturing co-operation

Singapore's Defence Science and Technology Agency (DSTA), France's Naval Group and its Singapore subsidiary Naval Group Far East, have signed an agreement to collaborate on exploring additive manufacturing technologies for naval applications. A joint statement on 11 June said that under the new memorandum of understanding (MOU), the three parties will “jointly identify potential use cases of harnessing additive manufacturing” for defence.

Collaborative activities will include the sharing of methodologies and techniques in relation to the production, certification, and qualification of additive manufactured components for naval platforms, the statement added.

In late 2019 Naval Group launched a research and development (R&D) centre in Singapore, with the aim of expanding its defence technology collaborative ties in the Southeast Asian country.

The facility has three focus areas: new technologies such as big data, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence; supplying technologies to regional markets; and supporting efforts led by the governments of Singapore and France to invest in defence R&D.

Naval Group's programmes in Singapore include the maintenance and support of six Formidable‐class guided‐missile frigates built by the company for the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN). The last of these vessels was delivered in 2009.