SINGAPORE - The Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) is significantly enhancing its maritime security capabilities with the planned acquisition of two state-of-the-art crewed submarines and an advanced artificial intelligence (AI)-driven unmanned mine countermeasures (MCM) system. The announcement, made at IMDEX Asia 2025, the navy's biennial defense exhibition, underscores Singapore's commitment to modernizing its naval forces.
On Wednesday, Singaporean defense prime ST Engineering secured a contract to develop and supply the RSN's next-generation MCM system. This cutting-edge system will comprise unmanned surface vessels (USVs), autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs), and an integrated command and control center, forming a sophisticated autonomous network. According to ST Engineering, this new capability will replace the four 350-tonne Bedok-class MCM vessels of the Navy's 6th Flotilla, which entered service in 1995.
The new USVs will be equipped with either a towed synthetic aperture sonar or a mine disposal system, with acquired data transmitted in real-time to the command and control center. This will enable the navy to detect and neutralize underwater threats with greater speed and accuracy. The Ministry of Defence (MINDEF) also announced the concurrent acquisition of a high-fidelity simulation system to allow operators to hone their skills in a safe environment. The specific value of the contract was not disclosed.
The Straits of Malacca and Singapore are among the world's most critical sea lanes, witnessing the passage of thousands of merchant vessels daily. Consequently, the threat of mine warfare by hostile actors poses a significant risk to maritime traffic. This underscores the RSN's focus on developing robust underwater mine detection and neutralization capabilities, alongside the ability to respond to "evolving maritime security threats."
"Our company aims to push the boundaries of USV and AUV performance for MCM operations by leveraging AI technologies," stated Low Jin Phang, President of Digital Systems at ST Engineering. A spokesperson for ST Engineering told Breaking Defense that the company would leverage its core technologies and operational know-how gained from past MCM trials and USV deployments. ST Engineering has previously supplied maritime security USVs to the RSN, which also operates Venus 16 USVs equipped with Exail K-Ster mine disposal systems.
"This MCM USV is not a simple iteration of previous models but has been designed to address the unique requirements of the MCM program," the spokesperson emphasized. "For the AUVs, a Mercury variant with enhanced state-of-the-art sonar payloads will be deployed."
ST Engineering highlighted its "over a decade of experience in the unmanned systems domain," noting that "close collaboration with the Singapore Navy and the defense technology community, extensive system testing, and trials have yielded invaluable insights." The company further explained that "this family of MCM systems reflects these advancements, featuring enhanced autonomy, system robustness, and a strong focus on maintainability and lifecycle support." Deliveries of the new MCM equipment are scheduled to commence in 2027.
In a parallel development, MINDEF signed a contract with German shipbuilder ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems (TKMS) for the acquisition of two additional Type-218SG conventional submarines. This announcement was widely anticipated, as Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen had alluded to the plan during his ministry's budget announcement on March 3rd. Nevertheless, the official confirmation marks a significant step in bolstering the RSN's underwater capabilities.
MINDEF explained that the additional submarine acquisition "will maintain a steady state of six submarines in our submarine force and further enhance our ability to protect our sea lines of communication." While the contract value was not disclosed, Ng Eng Hen told parliament in 2023 that each of the 2,200-tonne submarines costs approximately $450 million.
Oliver Burkhard, CEO of TKMS, expressed pride in Singapore's renewed trust, noting that TKMS currently has an order backlog of €16 billion (approximately $18.1 billion).
According to TKMS, the submarines are equipped with air-independent propulsion (AIP) systems, providing extended underwater endurance, and are optimized for operations in Singapore's shallow and congested tropical waters. They also offer the advantage of a small crew size of 28.
"We are focusing on the highest technical requirements for Singapore's additional order," TKMS added. Earlier this year, Burkhard indicated that the newly contracted submarines would incorporate "new features" reflecting technological advancements.
Singapore's first two Type 218SG submarines were commissioned in September 2024, and the navy stated that the trials and acceptance process for the second pair is "progressing smoothly in Germany." These two submarines are expected to return to Singapore in 2028. The newly contracted fifth and sixth submarines are anticipated for delivery in 2034. The Type 218SG represents Singapore's first new-build submarine acquisition, having previously built its submarine force through the acquisition of second-hand submarines from Sweden.
MINDEF emphasized that the submarine acquisition is "part of the Navy's long-term force development approach." With the completion of other ongoing programs, the RSN is poised to possess a highly modern and capable naval force. The introduction of these new submarines and AI-powered MCM systems marks a significant leap forward in enhancing Singapore's maritime security posture.
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