싱가포르, 인빈시블급 잠수함 2척과 포커-50 초계기 대체 계획 발표

[위종민]

싱가포르가 3월 3일 4척 조달 예정이며 2척이 취역된 218SG 인빈시블급 잠수함 2척과 1993년부터 운영된 포커-50 해상초계기 대체기 조달 계획을 발표했습니다. 해상초계기 대체기종 후보는 P-8A와 C295네요. 

Singapore plans procurement of 2 more submarines, new maritime patrol aircraft - Naval News

Singapore plans procurement of 2 more submarines, new maritime patrol aircraft

• Published on 03/03/2025
• By Albert Lee
• In News

RSS Impeccable at the commissioning ceremony (Singapore MINDEF photo)

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Singaporean Defense Minister Dr. Ng Eng Hen announced plans to procure two more Invincible-class submarines and new maritime patrol aircraft today, during the Committee of Supply debate in Parliament.

The Singaporean government is now planning to procure an additional two Invincible-class submarines (also known as the Type 218SG) for the Republic of Singapore Navy, in addition to the four currently planned to be operational by 2028.

In his remarks to lawmakers during the Committee of Supply debate, Dr. Ng said that the Invincible-class program was on track, and the RSN Invincible and Impeccable already in service with the Republic of Singapore Navy were now “proven” to function well in Singapore’s tropical operational conditions after their commissioning in September 2024:

“But four submarines are not an optimum for a fleet. Submarines are subjected to more rigorous and frequent maintenance cycles, stringent checks, as you can imagine, because they need to operate under intense pressure, literally. And this is why most navies that operate submarines have more than four.”

According to Dr. Ng, the additional two submarines will provide a “steady state” for the Republic of Singapore Navy’s submarine fleet.

Dr. Ng also announced that the Republic of Singapore Air Force is now eval‎uating replacements for its Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft, as the Fokkers are now due for replacement after 32 years in service. He said that the RSAF was eval‎uating Boeing’s P-8 Poseidon and Airbus’ C-295 as possible choices for the role.

Three Fokker 50 maritime patrol aircraft of the Republic of Singapore Air Force (Republic of Singapore Air Force)

Additionally, Dr. Ng said the first of the Republic of Singapore Navy’s Multi-Role Combat Vessels will be launched this year, adding that the MRCVs would have “about three times” the range of the Victory-class corvettes they will replace.

The Republic of Singapore Navy has six MRCVs on order under a contract signed in 2023, with the keel of the first MRCV laid in October 2024 at ST Engineering’s shipyard. The MRCV is intended to serve as a “mothership” for unmanned platforms, with greater emphasis on their deployment and use compared to the MRCVs’ onboard weaponry.

A group photo of representatives from the Republic of Singapore Navy, ST Engineering, and the Singaporean defense ministry at the keel laying ceremony (Republic of Singapore Navy)

Dr. Ng said the defense ministry’s financial expenditure for 2025 is projected to be around S$23.4 billion (approximately US$17.3 billion), a 12.4% increase over 2024 spending. He continued that the increase reflects a “catch-up” on projects deferred or disrupted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

While the ministry was “still catching up”, Dr. Ng said the 2025 budget would probably be the last of the catch-up years, with smaller increases expected for the rest of the decade “barring major conflicts or severe economic uncertainty”.

“But given the rapid changes in our external environment, I think we’ll have to continually monitor the situation closely and if the need arises, we must be prepared to invest more to further strengthen our capabilities.”