The Republic of Singapore Navy's second Invincible (Type 218SG)-class submarine, RSS Impeccable , seen here at its commissioning ceremony on 24 September 2024 at Changi Naval Base. (Janes/Ridzwan Rahmat)
Singapore will procure two more Invincible (Type 218SG)-class diesel-electric submarines (SSKs), the country's Minister of Defence Ng Eng Hen disclosed in a parliamentary statement on 3 March.
In addition, Singapore has begun evaluating options for a new type of maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), a next-generation infantry fighting vehicle (IFV), and new munitions for its High-Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS).
Ng disclosed these matters in a parliamentary session known as the Committee of Supply Debate to discuss the country's overall national budget, including its defence expenditure, for the 2025 financial year.
Singapore commissioned its first two Type 218SG SSKs in September 2024. The vessels, RSS Invincible and RSS Impeccable , were part of a programme then to equip the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) with a total of four Type 218SG boats.
The SSKs were ordered under two separate contracts signed between German shipbuilder thyssenkrupp Marine Systems (tkMS) and Singapore's Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) in 2013 and 2017 respectively.
In his address, Ng disclosed that Invincible and Impeccable have begun operations in waters around Singapore and are functioning well in the tropical climate.
“But four submarines are not optimal for a fleet. Submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles [and] stringent checks because they need to operate under intense pressure, literally,” Ng said.
“So sometimes operational time is reduced relatively, and this is why most navies that operate submarines have more than four.”
Ng highlighted Australia, Indonesia, and Vietnam as examples of countries in the region that operate more than four submarines.
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